When it was recommended we take a look at the Toronto Swim Centre while we were visiting Lake Macquarie last weekend, I went along with an open mind. But, I wasn’t sure I’d see anything I hadn’t already seen in our travels, but I was wrong. The Toronto Swim Centre has gone the extra mile with accessibility, providing a truly inclusive swimming environment for people of all abilities.
TORONTO SWIM CENTRE ACCESSIBILITY
Everyone enjoys choice, and Toronto Swim Centre offers visitors the opportunity to decide which pool suits their needs best. Hoisted facilities provide easy access to all of the pools.
Although this is standard practice in the US, thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act, in Australia we are often lucky to see even one pool with access, let alone all of them!
The unique feature at Toronto Swim Centre, which I’ve not seen before, is the pool wheelchair lift. There’s one fitted to both the hydrotherapy pool and the lap pool.
A swimmer can use the hoist in the Changing Places bathroom to transfer to the pool wheelchair, which then clips on to the lift and lowers the wheelchair and swimmer into the pool.
The pool wheelchair has movable arm rests which lift out of the way for easy transferring from a wheelchair if needed.
When we visited, many seniors were using the hydrotherapy pool for rehabilitation for aches and pains, injuries and post surgery exercise. The aquatic bike fixtures were proving popular with the users who smiled and chatted to us assuring us it was a low impact way of exercising.
A thoughtful inclusion at the Toronto Swim Centre is the Changing Places bathroom facility which is located conveniently near the hydrotherapy pool.
Push button access, a ceiling hoist, shower facility with bench seat, or shower chair, and an adult change table make a visit to the pool more accessible for people with high support needs. Along with the Changing Places bathroom facility, two unisex stand-alone accessible bathrooms are also available.
The spa at Toronto Swim Centre is popular with locals. One clever gentleman has even solved the age old problem of the spa turning off and the need to get out to press the button to get it going again. I was told about him when I asked about a random stick lying near the spa. The man wasn’t able to get out of the spa to press the button to get it going again each time it switched off, and with a desire to be independent (rather than asking others to help him) he brought along a stick which is just the right length to reach the spa button, while staying in the spa.
PARKING AT TORONTO SWIM CENTRE
Two accessible parking spots are available near the entry to the swim centre.
If you’re visiting the Lake Macquarie area and looking for an accessible indoor swimming pool, we can highly recommend the Toronto Swim Centre. You can check opening times and admission fees on the Toronto Swim Centre website.
You may also like to read our tips for other wheelchair accessible activities to do in Lake Macquarie here.
Will the pool be open from 11th October
Hi Antonietta,
I suggest contacting them directly as I don’t know. It sounds like they will be but call ahead to be sure.
Happy Swimming!
Julie
It’s a shame the equipment in the disabled change room is always broken. The wheelchair to access the hydrotherapy pool has been broken for over 12 months and not been fixed. My client loves the water and she hasn’t been able to access the pool because there is no wheelchair access into the pool available.
We have told Toronto Pool about the broken chair and also made enquiries with LMCC. Nothing has been done and its a disgrace to say the least. I went in to the other day and now the lifter is broken, so now unusable.
Hi Julie
I’m sending this comment on to my contact in the area. I know LMCC prides itself on accessibility so I am hopeful they may be able to assist.
Thanks for letting me know
Julie
Do I need a referral to use the hydrotherapy pool. I have just a double knee replacement and would like to use the pool for therapy.
Hi Deborah
I don’t believe so but I suggest calling in case there are certain hours you can use it.
Julie