Fort Lauderdale, Florida – August 2026. – Greater Fort Lauderdale is strengthening its commitment to inclusive tourism with a new sensory accessibility initiative developed in partnership with KultureCity, becoming the first destination to offer sensory-friendly beaches across six communities.

The destination-wide program extends sensory accessibility resources to beaches in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood Beach, Pompano Beach, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Dania Beach and Hallandale Beach, providing visitors with sensory sensitivities with additional tools and support to enjoy South Florida's coastline.

The initiative addresses the needs of people with sensory sensitivities and invisible disabilities, including autism and post-traumatic stress disorder, while creating a more welcoming environment for residents and visitors.

Sensory resources available at the beaches

As part of the program, participating beaches now provide KultureCity sensory bags at designated lifeguard stations. The bags include noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, verbal cue cards, feeling thermometer cards and strobe-reduction sunglasses.

Additional resources include sensory-friendly signage, designated calm spaces, weighted lap pads, identifiable lanyards and accessible beach equipment, including beach wheelchairs.

Visitors who benefit from preparing for a new environment can also access a Social Story for the beaches through the KultureCity app and website, allowing them to become familiar with the experience before arriving.

More than 170 lifeguards receive specialized training

The initiative also includes a major training component. More than 170 lifeguards across the participating beaches have completed sensory-awareness training focused on understanding sensory processing and learning strategies for communicating effectively with visitors experiencing sensory overload.

The training is designed to help beach staff recognize sensory needs and respond appropriately, contributing to a more comfortable and predictable experience for visitors and their families.

A new benchmark for accessible tourism

The partnership positions Greater Fort Lauderdale at the forefront of sensory-inclusive tourism in the United States. Rather than focusing on a single attraction or venue, the initiative covers multiple beach communities across the destination, creating a broader accessibility network along Broward County's coastline.

“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.

Ritter added that working with KultureCity and the participating beach communities will help create experiences in which residents and visitors can enjoy the coastline with greater comfort, confidence and peace of mind.

For Greater Fort Lauderdale, the initiative represents another step toward positioning accessibility and inclusion as integral components of the destination's tourism strategy, while expanding the ways in which visitors with different sensory needs can experience its beaches.