POOLaide Webinar: Stop Accomodating, Start Seeking: Accessibility in Aquatics

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. 

Presentation Slides

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. 

27:47 Welcome

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)

Google My Business 

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)

Bennett Blazers

LEED Certification Process

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. 

AUTISM SWIM

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

Chris Koch: If I Can

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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For the complete POOLaide webinar schedule, please click here.

 

 

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