Dr. P. Phillips Hospital in Orlando

Orlando Medical Services & Special Needs

Different attendees have different needs — especially guests with disabilities. Visit Orlando is proud to provide information and services for those visitors with special needs. Whether researching Orlando hotels and transportation options, or finding out about the latest Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, Visit Orlando is here to help.

Accommodations

Hotels and motels are required by law to be accessible to people with disabilities. Please mention your attendees’ needs when making reservations so the hotel’s staff can be better prepared to welcome you.

Orlando Transportation & Parking

Be sure attendees bring an out-of-state or out-of-country disabled parking permit. It should be prominently displayed in the windshield of the car when they are parked in designated public handicapped parking spots. Temporary permits are not available.

If your group is planning to rent a car in Orlando, be sure to call ahead to reserve vehicles with hand controls. Several rental companies — including Alamo, Avis, Dollar, Enterprise and Hertz — have these models available for rent.

Finally, the I-Ride Trolley is a great way to see International Drive. Featuring lifts and lock-downs, the trolleys usually operate daily from 8 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. with service every 20 minutes. (Please note that some transportation providers may not be available depending on the time of your visit.)

Telephone Services

While in Orlando, attendees with hearing disabilities can use the Florida Relay Service. To call Florida Relay, dial 711, 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 to Spanish)
  • 1-877-955-8707 (French to French)

Orange County Convention Center

The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) is in compliance with the ADA and continues to search for ways to better accommodate all visitors. Both buildings are designed with wheelchair ramps, automatic doors, passenger elevators and handicap-accessible restroom facilities.

Throughout the OCCC facility, meeting rooms, restrooms and elevator signs contain Braille text for our visually impaired guests. All parking at the OCCC is available on a first-come, first-served basis, including handicap-accessible parking.

Orlando International Airport

Orlando International Airport (MCO) provides a barrier-free path and accessible services throughout the facility for individuals with disabilities. Get details about available accessibility services, as well as a map of their locations inside the airport.

ADA Compliance

Meetings between businesses and people with disabilities — whether related to researching customer preferences, developing a business education curriculum, or discovering effective ways to comply with the ADA — can result in innovative ideas and powerful collaborations that bring greater access to customers with disabilities and attract new customers to businesses. For these meetings to be successful, everyone involved must have an equal opportunity to participate.

Three components are key to presenting meetings that are accessible to people with disabilities: where the meeting is held, how the meeting room furniture is arranged, and how the meeting information is communicated. Event organizers will find that when these elements are accessible, they serve not only the participants with disabilities but also a wide range of others, including older adults, baby boomers and people with temporary disabilities.

Read the ADA’s “Meeting on a Level Playing Field” for more information.