Disabilities coalition to boycott hotels
The coalition – made up of the American Association of People with Disabilities, National Disability Rights Network, ADAPT, National Council on Independent Living and other state and local groups – is urging people to boycott hotels associated with the Radisson and Kimble chains because of their participation in the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) and the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA).
On Jan. 31, the Department of Justice (DOJ) notified hoteliers that swimming pools must have lifts to help handicapped people get into pools on their own. The DOJ gave a deadline of March 15 for compliance.
AHLA and AAHOA started a lobbying campaign, according to a release, to push the compliance date back to Jan. 31, 2013, which the DOJ did. The groups also supported the Carter-Nunnelee-Flake Amendment to the appropriations bill, which would bar the DOJ from enforcing ADA regulations stating that pool lifts much be permanently attached to pools and spas.
On its website, AHLA states that it supports ADA and encourages hotels to comply, but feels that permanent lifts are a hazard to children who “will play and jump off the lift.”
The coalition disagrees and said it will call to boycott more hotels in the coming weeks.