POOLaide Webinar: Stop Accomodating, Start Seeking: Accessibility in Aquatics
Presentation by Adrian Spencer
Originally aired April 6, 2020
Accessibility is about more than just a universal change room or a pool lift. Accessibility is about ensuring aquatic staff can provide dignity to all bathers at our aquatic facilities. Understand your own able-bodied bias and how to provide basic training to younger staff.
Adrian Spencer
Adrian grew up thinking his swimming instructors were the coolest people on the beach. This exposure led to a career in aquatics, beginning as a lifeguard and instructor, and culminating with managing a busy facility. The closure of his facility gave an opportunity to pursue a parallel passion in engineering. He graduated from a Mechanical engineering Technologist program, and went on to specialize in fluid systems. These parallel interests all converged when he entered technical sales for commercial pool construction.
Through working as a professional Canadian Ski Patroller, he met a very influential friend with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Witnessing her overcome so much ultimately lead to him being instrumental in bringing a world class accessibility lift to Canadian pools. In his spare time he skis, explores the Atlantic Coast on his Waverunner, trains kids in lifesaving and lifesaving sport, and is the “lifeguard who lifeguards the lifeguards.”
Show Notes
00:00 early start - webinar hangout with Katie Crysdale, Lakeview Aquatic Consultants Ltd.
30:50 Introducing Adrian Spencer
32:04 Presentation
1:17:00 End of Presentation
1:22:23 Q & A with Adrian
2:14:34 Wrap Up
Links/Sources Discussed
Dublin Aquatics, Ohio (Instagram)
Play-Doh Mini 50 Pack (Amazon or Costco at Christmas)
Ping Pong Balls 60 Pack (Amazon)
The Metagame (Amazon)
POOLaide Webinar Contact Directory (Google Drive)
Friday, April 3 webinar recording & show notes
Lakeview Aquatic Consultants Ltd. (Youtube Channel)
Lakeview Aquatic Consultants (Instagram)
Lakeview Aquatic Consultants (Facebook)
Lakeview Aquatic Consultants Newsletter Signup
Farmers Branch Aquatic Center (Instagram)
Farmers Branch Aquatic Center (website)
The Ultimate Guide to Google My Business (HubSpot)
Lakeview Aquatic Consultants Google My Business with photos (example)
One More Wave (Instagram)
Nitro Circus: Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham
World's First Wheelchair Front Flip (YouTube)
Homemade Off Road Electric Wheelchair (YouTube)
Men's 100m Backstroke Final - London 2012 Paralympic Games (YouTube)
Sit-Skier Trevor Kennison Launches Corbet's Couloir (YouTube)
Adaptive Swimming Waikiki - Beach Wheelchair (YouTube)
Katie's post about accessibility lift & stairs (mentioned at 58:57)
Sobey's turns down lights, noise for sensory-friendly shopping hours (CBC)
Katie's post about accessibility (Instagram)
Swim Angelfish (website)
Swim Angelfish (Facebook)
Autism Resources Miramichi Inc.
spencer.adrian@gmail.com
Swim Angelfish training videos (YouTube)
United States ADA Standards: Recreation Facilities
National Autism Association: Special Needs Swimming Instruction Directory
Vecova (Calgary, Alberta)
Resource Page (Lakeview Aquatic Consultants)
Lifesaving Society of Alberta & NWT
Americans with Disabilities Act (US Department of Justice)
Americans with Disabilities Act National Network
Canadian Charter of Rights & Freedoms
PoolPod
Alberta Barrier-Free Design Guide (2017)
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
City of Toronto Accessibility Design Guidelines (2004)
City of Ottawa Accessibility Design Standards (2015)
Rick Hansen Foundation
Level Playing Field: An Accessibility Agency
Texas Recreation & Parks Society (TRAPS) CEU Link anyone is eligible to receive CEUs from TRAPS for $15/POOLaide webinar or an introductory TRAPS membership ($55) gets you five free CEUs during COVID.
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