Splash on Accessibility

One thing I didn’t get to do on my trip to Chicago, is to get in a pool.

The hotel’s pool was closed due to the pandemic restrictions. I was kind of bummed because I had bought two cute swimming suites to wear while on vacation. Although, it makes me happy to see and hear that the pandemic is slowly going away.

Being able to get in a spa or pool is good for my disability. My everyday normal is that gravity holds me down, making it very difficult to achieve tasks so many take for granted. And, although some daily tasks may be hard, I still try to do them anyway; as long as I feel they will not harm me. If I don’t, stiffness sets in making it almost impossible to move. Like the saying goes, either you use it, or you lose it. Trust me, that’s a true statement.

Thanks to laws providing equity to people with a disability, most places that have pools must have pool lifts.

I’ve utilized a pool lift a time or two and I must say, it’s not perfect, but doable. A few years back I stayed at a hotel that had a pool lift and my favorite sister Peggy, along with my niece, helped me on to it. If you’re familiar with a Hoyer Lift, a piece of medical equipment that one is strapped into to move to a bed, couch, or commode, the pool lift is sort of the same way.

When on the pool lift, its portable capabilities allowed Peggy to lower me in the pool. I loved it!

Another great thing about pool lifts are some are portable. Once I got out of the pool, Peggy wheeled me over to the whirlpool and lowered me into a nice warm spa with jets.

If I had to pick out something to make the pool lifts even better, I would suggest a foot strap. Because it was not holding my legs, which caused them to float upward. Although the pool lift has a seatbelt, I kept sliding.

In my opinion, no accessible equipment is perfect. Even after sitting on my scooter for several hours, my body starts to ache but I much rather have it than not. Pools lifts are not perfect but it does allow one with physical challenges to enjoy the best summer activity.

I’m guessing not all pool venues have lifts. Although it’s the law, some do the bare minimal when it comes to accommodations. Next time you’re at your local YMCA, aquatic center, water park, or private swim club, let me know if you see a pool lift that’s not out of order.

As summer arrives and the blistering sun begins to blare down, chilling at the pool is going to be the thing to do. Although the swim suits I bought are cute, my main purpose for buying them is to get them wet. The only way I’m going to achieve this is by having full accessibility to a pool lift.