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Fort Lauderdale’s travel and tourism board wants everyone to feel welcome — especially visitors with disabilities or mobility concerns. The board, known as Visit Lauderdale, just launched a new microsite focused on accessibility.
Travelers with disabilities or mobility differences know that planning a trip comes with added stress and considerations at nearly every stage of the journey. Visit Lauderdale’s new microsite addresses those concerns head-on, with tips to help make your visit smoother from start to finish.
Every Step Of The Way
That commitment begins as soon as you arrive at Fort Lauderdale’s airport (FLL), where guests are encouraged to check out the airport’s Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program.
Before your trip, you can email [email protected] to request free sunflower lanyards or pins to wear on the day of your flight, which alert airport employees that you may need extra help or time.
The accessibility microsite also does a fantastic job of showcasing local attractions and businesses that are committed to providing accessible, welcoming experiences to all guests. Wondering where you can take a service animal, or who has free wheelchairs available? How about which beaches have handicapped parking? Or which theaters provide assisted-listening devices and open-captioning? That’s exactly the kind of information you’ll have at your fingertips on the site, broken down by location or attraction.
If you want to rent a scooter, wheelchair, or a mobility device for extra help getting from Point A to Point B, the site can help with that, too — linking to reputable, vetted suppliers in the area. Knowing that a good hotel experience can make or break a trip, the site has you covered there, as well — linking to trusted hotels that display their accessible guest amenities.
Everyone Is Welcome
“Accessible tourism is not only about human rights, but also an opportunity to embrace and educate all visitors,” said Richard Gray, Visit Lauderdale’s senior vice president of inclusion and accessibility. “We embrace all visitors with wide open, welcoming arms and we are dedicated to increasing awareness of accessibility features throughout the destination.”
The update by Visit Lauderdale is part of a broader movement to make travel accessible to all people. For more on accessible travel, check out these articles:
