Access to swimming pools and water parks and their use by disabled people

Abstract

With their increasing number in and around many cities, but also in towns and villages, swimming pools and water parks are among many forms of recreation. Giving local people access to those facilities has a huge impact on improving the quality of life, as well as on the rehabilitation of people with disabilities. With an opportunity to use them, young people and adults with different health issues have a chance to develop their swimming skills in the context of sports, recreation and rehabilitation. Unfortunately, not all swimming pools or water parks are accessible to persons with disabilities because of architectural, technical or organizational barriers that limit or completely prevent people with various forms of health problems from their free use. Therefore, an important task in developing a healthy lifestyle, physical culture and active rehabilitation is to provide the right conditions for the use of sports and recreational facilities to all people that need them.