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Introduction to Recreation Access Rights

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has changed the way in which public and private agencies provide recreation opportunities. This paper will review the rights of the consumer of recreation and leisure services under the ADA and discuss some of the key administrative and court decisions that have shaped those rights.

This information applies to opportunities provided by units of state and local government (such as a parks and recreation department), private for-profit entities (such as a health club or an adventure outfitter), and nonprofit organizations (such as a YMCA or community sports association). This paper briefly discusses the differences between those types of agencies, but the focus here is more on what is similar, not what is different.

There is an important concept in determining the length to which an entity must go for ADA compliance. This concept, undue burden, is discussed in this paper. It is also important to review how consumers can enforce those rights. This paper does that, and notes the resources that recreation consumers can use to find out more about your rights, and how to enforce those rights. This paper will provide the names and numbers and websites of local and national organizations that know recreation, and the right to access.

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This fact sheet was last updated on 12-21-2005.