WHY IT RATES: The popular destination is enhancing inclusion and accessibility with a new tool for travelers with non-visible disabilities.—Patrick Clarke, TravelPulse Senior Editor
Visit Lauderdale, the official destination marketing organization for Greater Fort Lauderdale, has expanded its partnership with the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program as the Broward County Convention Center signs on as the first convention center in North America to adopt the program. On Monday, April 29, 2024, Visit Lauderdale hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the convention center from 11 a.m. to noon.
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a simple tool for people with non-visible disabilities to voluntarily share that they may need extra assistance while traveling. Hidden disabilities can range from temporary cognitive conditions to physical, visual, sensory, and processing difficulties, to chronic health conditions such as arthritis and diabetes, chronic pain, and sleep disorders.
“Visit Lauderdale is committed to providing everyone a safe and supportive environment and has long championed inclusion and accessibility tourism by removing barriers in the travel experience for everyone,” said Stacy Ritter, president and CEO of Visit Lauderdale.
According to the World Health Organization, 15 percent of the world’s population has some sort of disability.
“Accessible tourism allows all people to participate in and enjoy vacation experiences,” said Richard Gray, Senior Vice President of Inclusion and Accessibility at Visit Lauderdale. “Whether they have a hidden or unhidden disability, we want them to feel acknowledged and valued when they visit Greater Fort Lauderdale. Hopefully, they will return time and time again to discover new places and have great experiences.”
The sunflower has become an internationally recognized symbol for raising awareness for people with hidden disabilities. As part of the program, the sunflower is displayed on lanyards, name badges, pins, wristbands, or a retractable sunflower ID card holder to let staff know that additional traveling support is needed.
All convention center employees will receive Hidden Disabilities Sunflower training and there is now a Zen Room in the convention center dedicated to providing a person with a hidden disability or a traveling companion with the support they need.
The program adds another welcoming dimension to the Greater Fort Lauderdale area, as the program has been incorporated into Visit Lauderdale’s accessible tourism marketing and has been adopted by the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
“We are thrilled to welcome Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center to the global Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program. They are helping to blaze a path of accessibility and inclusion for people with non-visible disabilities both locally and nationally,” said Lynn Smith, Regional Director of Hidden Disabilities Sunflower USA.
For more information on the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program, visit HDSunflower.com. To learn more about Visit Lauderdale’s inclusion and diversity initiatives, visit VisitLauderdale.com.
SOURCE: Greater Fort Lauderdale press release.
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