Fort Lauderdale Just Got a Lot More Accessible for Families

Fort Lauderdale is already known for great weather and great beaches, but for family travelers who need accessible destinations, the city just got even better. Greater Fort Lauderdale recently collaborated with KultureCity, a nonprofit organization working to increase sensory awareness, accessibility and inclusiveness in public spaces. Through this partnership, the Greater Fort Lauderdale area has recently become the world’s first KultureCity-certified sensory accessible and inclusive beach destination. While that title is bit of a mouthful, it means great things for families traveling with special needs.

Six local beach communities (Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Dania Beach, Hollywood Beach, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and Hallandale Beach) are participants in the program, meaning visitors to these beaches will have all sorts of resources available to them to make visits successful.

“Greater Fort Lauderdale has always been a destination where everyone belongs, and this initiative is another meaningful step in ensuring our beaches reflect that commitment,” said Stacy Ritter, president and CEO, Visit Lauderdale. “By working alongside KultureCity and our beach communities, we’re proud to become KultureCity’s first destination with sensory-friendly beaches, creating experiences where every resident and visitor can enjoy our coastline with greater comfort, confidence and peace of mind.”

To take advantage of the available resources, visit any designated lifeguard station at one of the six participating beach communities to grab a sensory bag. Those bags contain all sorts of tools, like feeling thermometer cards, fidget tools, noise-cancelling headphones, verbal cue cards and strobe-reducing sunglasses. You can also request a weighted lap pad, sensory beach equipment and beach wheelchairs, and there are calm spaces you can access if needed. This is all possible thanks to the more than 170 area lifeguards who were specially trained on sensory awareness, needs and communication in order to provide necessary support to visitors and residents.

Start planning your trip by visiting the KultureCity website or app where you can watch a Sensory Story for the beaches you plan to visit. These stories will let you know what to expect, along with what services are available and how to access them, and will help relieve some of the anxiety that comes from anticipating new experiences.