Visit Lauderdale, the official destination marketing organization for Greater Fort Lauderdale, has expanded its partnership with the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program as the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center signs on as the first convention center in North America to adopt the program. 

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 all barriers to a quality experience for everyone,” said Richard Gray, senior vice president of Inclusion and Accessibility at Visit Lauderdale. “We embraced the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program as soon as we learned of it and couldn’t be more proud that our newly renovated and expanded convention center is the very first on the continent to implement the program.”

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 will be a permanent space 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. As the first convention center in North America to join the 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.

Increasing Demand for Accessible Travel Conferences

According to the World Health Organization, 15% of the world’s population has some sort of disability and Gray believes there is a considerable untapped market for accessibility travel. Within a year after launching its specialized Accessible Tourism microsite, which makes trip planning for people with visible and non-visible disabilities easier, an increased number of event organizers determined Greater Fort Lauderdale was the ideal location to host a conference.

In June 2023, Visit Lauderdale hosted the Deaf Seniors of America 17th Biennial National Conference at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino & Hotel in Hollywood, Florida. Click here for video.

In  October 2023, Visit Lauderdale was proud to host the Abilities Expo Fort Lauderdale at the convention center, where attendees from around the nation convened to network and learn about the latest products, technologies, and resources available for the disability community.

“We believe accessible tourism enables all people to participate in and enjoy vacation experiences,” said Gray. “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.”  

In summer of 2023, Visit Lauderdale contracted with Maayan Ziv a popular influencer and founder of @AccessNowApp. Ziv visited multiple Greater Fort Lauderdale attractions and created a multi-media package titled Accessible Fort Lauderdale, Florida – The Ultimate Travel Guide. 

About Greater Fort Lauderdale 

With 24 miles of golden sand beaches and 300+ miles of navigable waterways, Greater Fort Lauderdale is known as the Venice of America and Yachting Capital of the World. The area boasts an average year-round temperature of 77˚F, has 3,000+ hours of annual sunshine, and is home to 31 unique municipalities, including eight distinct beach communities, each offering something for “everyone under the sun.” Residents hailing from 170 countries, speaking 147 languages call this diverse destination home. And there’s good reason, including the area’s unwavering commitment to accessibility and inclusion. Upon arrival at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), a five-minute drive will get you to the beach, Port Everglades, the newly expanded Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center, and a bustling downtown. Experience 4,000+ eateries, a thriving arts and culture scene, craft breweries, stunning rooftop bars, fishing, diving, and the unmatched beauty of the Florida Everglades. From world-class shopping, to boating, yachts and superyachts all moored at the area’s many marinas, it’s no wonder Greater Fort Lauderdale is one of the most desirable places to stay, work and play. The destination has more than 38,000 unique lodging accommodations at a variety of hotels, luxury spa resorts, and beautifully appointed, boutique properties, all reflecting the area’s cosmopolitan vibe. Find inspiration for your next trip at visitlauderdale.com and follow @VisitLauderdale on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube. 

About Visit Lauderdale
Visit Lauderdale is the official destination marketing organization for Greater Fort Lauderdale and serves as the tourism department for Broward County, Florida. Visit Lauderdale promotes the area’s 31 municipalities to a global audience of leisure and business travelers as the ideal place for Everyone Under the Sun in recognition of the area’s diverse and welcoming vibe, and books conventions into the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center and area hotels and resorts. Find more information at visitlauderdale.com and follow @VisitLauderdale on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

About the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower:

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower enables individuals to discreetly indicate that they have a non-visible disability and may need additional assistance, understanding, or more time. Since Hidden Disabilities Sunflower was established in the UK in 2016, it has been adopted globally by businesses and charities to support their colleagues and customers. The Sunflower is recognized across a broad range of sectors – ranging from retail, financial services, transport including over 200 airports, travel and tourism, education, government, as well as healthcare, emergency service and entertainment. Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is available globally and has been launched locally in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Latin America, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the UAE, the UK and the USA. Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is part of Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme Limited, a private company based in the UK. For further information visit: https://hdsunflower.com