Information for Visitors with Hearing Disabilities
A Florida Keys vacation means a great getaway to one of the most unique places on earth. Most lodgings, attractions and recreational activities are specially equipped to enhance the participation and enjoyment of everyone, yet in some cases visitors with hearing disabilities may need the assistance of a member of their party to fully utilize these areas.
Accommodations
Florida state statutes require hotels and motels to provide at least 5% of the guest rooms with certain handicapped accessible criteria. Features may vary depending on your selected hotel/resort, such as TDD lines for telephones, or the availability of TTY kits at the front desk for the hearing impaired. Visitors are encouraged to discuss their accessibility needs when they contact the individual establishments.
For a complete list of Florida Keys accommodations, visit our Places to Stay page.
Attractions
What is your idea of fun? Florida Keys attractions have accessibility for all our visitors to pursue their passion and enjoy some of the most notable features of the Keys: the beautiful water, world-class fishing and its natural wildlife and delicate marine ecosystems.
Each of our attractions is designed to offer fun for everyone, with resourceful staff and specific printed information to help visitors with hearing disabilities enjoy the activities.
In Key West, you will have a unique opportunity to observe butterflies and birds in a tropical setting at The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservancy. Their diversity of size, shape, color and patterns, and behavior make these delicate winged creatures a delight to see. in a tropical, inviting environment.
The Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden is a magical oasis, the only tropical humid forest in the continental United States. The Garden houses over 40 species of endangered or threatened flora and fauna, and on a self-guided stroll along the boardwalk that meanders through the butterfly garden leading to the Western Loop, temperatures there are known to be 8 degrees cooler under the shade of this tropical hammock. You will see a collection of thousands of varieties of species from lacy fern to stalwart ficus, Gumbo Limbo, Fig, Pigeon Plum, Tamarind, Snowberry, Jamaican Coffee and native palms.
Dining
All our Florida Keys restaurants are ready to welcome you in our friendly and laid back dining venues. For a complete listing of each region's restaurants, visit:
The Arts
As special public arts, culture and theatrical events with arrangements and availability made for attendees with auditory disabilities, we will be posting them here.
Click here for a complete listing of Arts & Cultural activities.
Telephones
While in the Florida Keys, visitors can use the Florida Relay Service, the communications link for people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf/Blind, or Speech Impaired.
Through the Florida Relay Service, people who use specialized telephone equipment can communicate with people who use standard telephone equipment.
To call Florida Relay, dial 7-1-1 or use the appropriate toll-free numbers.
- 1-800-955-8771 (TTY)
- 1-800-955-8770 (Voice)
- 1-800-955-1339 (ASCII)
- 1-877-955-8260 (VCO-Direct)
- 1-800-955-5334 (STS)
- 1-877-955-8773 (Spanish)
- 1-877-955-8707 (French Cr)
Transportation
Ground transportation in the form of shuttle buses is available from the Key West airport to area hotels. If an area accommodation does not provide its own shuttle, on your behalf they will contact a local taxi company that provides transportation either between the hotel and airport or your island destination.
We encourage you to confirm such transportation with your individual lodging property.
For getting around the island(s), local public and tour transportation with wheelchair access is available, such as Key West's Conch Tour Train and Key West Trolley Tours. The City of Key West also provides accessible public bus service. Click here for a schedule and more information.
Ferry transport service is also provided between Key West and Sunset Key as well as interesting day tours to the outlying, historical islands of the Dry Tortugas.
To see more areas of the Florida Keys, you can find information on bus, shuttle and other public transportation with downloadable route maps and schedules for the Florida Keys on our Brochures & Newsletters page.
Destination Information
The Florida Keys & Key West Tourism Development Council
P.O. Box 866
Key West, FL 33041
800-FLA-KEYS (352-5397)
Florida Keys Visitor Center/Key Largo Chamber of Commerce
106000 Overseas Highway
Key Largo, FL 33037
800-822-1088
(305) 451-1414
Islamorada Chamber of Commerce
83224 Overseas Highway
Islamorada, FL 33036
800-322-5397
(305) 664-4503
Marathon Chamber of Commerce
1222 Overseas Highway
Marathon, FL 33050
800-262-7284
(305) 743-5417
Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce
MM31/Overseas Highway
Big Pine Key, FL 33043
800-872-3722
(305) 872-2411
Key West Chamber of Commerce
510 Greene St.
Key West, FL 33040
(305) 294-2587
Florida Keys Council for People with Disabilities
Lower Keys (305) 292-4500
Middle Keys (305) 743-0079 ext. 4562
Upper Keys (305) 852-1469 ext. 4562
Other Resources
- Able Trust offers helpful links to disability resources throughout the state of Florida. Contact direct at 888-838-2253
- Florida Disabled Outdoors Association is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities and enhancing the opportunities for outdoor recreation. Contact for more information 850-201-2944
- Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality (SATH) provides recommendations and resources for travel agents and to help travelers with disabilities plan their vacations. Contact direct 800-513-1126