DOJ Investigation — Rollators Banned at Florida Theme Parks

Late last week the Department of Justice announced that they are actively investigating United Parks and Resorts for allegedly violating Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). United Parks & Resorts owns and licenses SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Aquatica Orlando. And the alleged violation? Apparently the parks in question have banned rollator walkers in their parks, and instead forced patrons to use mobility aids that are inappropriate for their individual disabilities.

Why Are Rollators Banned at Florida Theme Parks?

So, why in the world would any facility ban rollator walkers? Well according to the Busch Gardens website, there are “safety concerns”. Apparently the parks have “crowded pathways, varying terrain and potential tripping hazards”. OK, but wouldn’t these conditions be exacerbated if someone who uses a rollator had it taken away from them at the entrance?. I’m thinking the tripping hazards would increase if you were navigating unfamiliar terrain without your rollator.

Apparently in some cases there is also the offer of an alternative assistive device to folks who have been stripped of their rollators. I’m assuming this means a wheelchair of some sort. Now let’s put this into perspective. You are taking away an assistive device that someone is familiar with, and forcing them to use something new in unfamiliar terrain. This not only sounds dangerous, but it’s also an infringement of civil rights. Perhaps someone missed that day in civics class.

According to one rollator-user, “I have one of those walkers. I have been told that if you get tired and sit down to get pushed, the risk is high for flipping over on uneven walkways.” This is true. It’s dangerous to push someone in a rollator, which is why it’s noted as a prohibited and dangerous practice on the company website. As the website notes, “Using a rollator walker as a tool for pushing the elderly is a risky practice. Rollator walkers are not designed to carry and move seated people. Overloading them may cause structural damage, brake failure, and other safety hazards.” 

I think it’s reasonable to assume that people will use their assistive devices in a safe way, and refrain from dangerous practices. But apparently United Parks & Resorts doesn’t see things that way.

Help the DOJ

The DOJ is actively investigating this issue, so if you have been denied the use of your rollator at one of these parks, the DOJ wants to hear from you. This whole investigation started because people complained to the DOJ about being denied the use of their personal assistive devices at these theme parks. So if you think that taking a few minutes to fill out a complaint is useless, then think again.

Not only should you complain any time you are denied your civil rights, you most certainly should get in touch with the DOJ immediately if you have encountered the rollator issue. It’s easy to file a complaint. Just go to https://www.civilrights.justice.gov/report/ and fill out the form. You can also give the DOJ a call on their toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301.

And although this issue is about rollators, it’s important to remember that the DOJ is complaint-driven. So if you run into any infringement of your civil rights under the ADA, be sure and file a complaint. This is especially true when a US hotel falls short in the ADA access department. Here’s a short overview of why and how you should file an ADA complaint. https://emerginghorizons.com/why-you-should-file-an-ada-complaint/