Greater Fort Lauderdale – World’s First KultureCity-Certified Sensory Accessible and Inclusive Beach

Visit Lauderdale today announced that Greater Fort Lauderdale has become the world’s first KultureCity-certified sensory accessible and inclusive beach destination. Through Visit Lauderdale’s Beaches for All campaign, six Broward County beach communities now offer sensory resources that help ensure residents and visitors of all abilities can enjoy Greater Fort Lauderdale’s golden sand beaches and vibrant outdoor lifestyle. 

The milestone marks a collaboration between Visit Lauderdale and KultureCity, the nation’s leading nonprofit focused on sensory accessibility and acceptance, and participating beach communities including Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood Beach, Pompano Beach, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Dania Beach and Hallandale Beach.

Research shows that 1 in 4 individuals have a disability, whether cognitive, physical, sensory, neurological, visible or invisible, reinforcing the need for greater awareness, accessibility and inclusion in public spaces. Through this first-of-its-kind destination-wide initiative, participating beaches now offer research-based tools designed to create a more welcoming and comfortable experience for guests with sensory sensitivities. 

“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 of 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.”

Participating beaches now have sensory bags, co-branded by KultureCity, Visit Lauderdale and the respective beach community. Available at designated lifeguard stations, the bags include noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, verbal cue cards, feeling thermometer cards, and strobe-reduction sunglasses.

Weighted lap pads are also available, along with sensory-friendly signage, designated calm spaces, identifiable lanyards and accessible beach equipment, including beach wheelchairs. 

Visitors will also have access to a dedicated Social Story for each participating beach through the free KultureCity App and website. These guides allow guests to preview their beach experience before arrival, including what to expect, where to access sensory resources and key locations to help them plan a comfortable visit.

To achieve the certification, more than 170 lifeguards across the participating beaches have completed specialized sensory-awareness training focused on understanding sensory processing, effective communication strategies and best practices for assisting guests experiencing sensory overload in a beach environment. Hallandale Beach has also expanded the program by providing similar training for staff at its sensory-friendly pools. 

For more information about the new partnership with KultureCity and to learn more Greater Fort Lauderdale’s accessibility, visit https://www.visitlauderdale.com/accessibility/.