The Department of Justice has opened an investigation of the company that owns several Florida theme parks, including SeaWorld Orlando (pictured in 1998), for violating Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act by limiting the types of walkers some disabled guests need to use when visiting the park. File handout photo by SeaWorld | License Photo
Nov. 25 (UPI) — The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday announced that it launched an investigation into the owner of three theme parks in Florida for allegedly violating the Americans with Disabilities Act.
DOJ is looking into allegations that United Parks & Resorts violated Title III under the ADA at its parks by banning the use of “rollator walkers” and providing accommodations that are inappropriate for the needs of specific guests.
“The ADA protects every American from disability-based discrimination in places of public accommodation,” Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general in DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, said in a press release.
“We are committed to upholding our federal civil rights laws so that no guest is denied access or is charged more because of a disability,” Dhillon said.
The department notified the parks of its investigation in a letter dated Tuesday.
The DOJ said it has received complaints from guests at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay and Aquatica in Orlando that the parts have barred them from using the walkers, requiring them to use others that affect their mobility and are “inappropriate for their individual disabilities.”
The DOJ additionally alleges that in some cases, these requirements forced guests to incur additional charges.
According to Fox35Orlando, SeaWorld in November changed the types of walkers it allows into the park, allowing walkers without seats but not rollator or wheeled walkers.
The park said on its website that the change was made out of concern for the safety of guests and employees, Fox35Orlando reported.