Travelling abroad can be daunting for disabled people, especially when it comes to navigating accessibility, transport, and parking rules that differ from those at home. But with a little preparation, a trip to the USA—particularly Florida—can be both enjoyable and manageable.
One of the biggest questions many UK visitors ask is: can I use my UK Blue Badge in America? The answer is complicated. Some states don’t recognise the UK badge, and if you park in a disabled bay without local authorisation, you could risk fines of up to $250.
Thankfully, there’s a straightforward solution.
Getting a Temporary Disabled Parking Placard in Florida
In Florida, disabled visitors can apply for a temporary disabled parking placard that hangs from your rear-view mirror. This placard gives you the right to park in disabled bays and at street meters without charge.
The process is refreshingly simple:
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Visit a local Tax Collector’s Office in Florida (for example, in Osceola County near Orlando).
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Bring your UK Blue Badge.
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Pay a fee of just $15.
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Walk away with a temporary placard—no doctor’s note required, no complicated forms.
We found the time invested in visiting the office was well worth it. For instance, in Miami, valet parking was $40 a day, while the placard allowed us to park for free all day on meters—saving both hassle and money.
Useful Tax Collector Office Locations in Osceola County (Orlando area):
Main Office
2501 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy.
Kissimmee, FL 34744
Phone: 407-742-4000 | Mon–Fri: 8:00am–4:00pm
BVL
2595 Simpson Road, Kissimmee, FL 34744
Phone: 407-742-4000 | Mon–Fri: 8:00am–4:00pm
St. Cloud
1300 9th Street, Suite 101B, St Cloud, FL 34769
Phone: 407-742-4000 | Mon–Fri: 8:00am–4:00pm
Campbell City
4730 South Orange Blossom Trail, Kissimmee, FL 34746
Phone: 407-742-4000 | Mon–Fri: 8:00am–4:00pm
Accessibility Features We Discovered
One of the joys of travel is noticing small details that make life easier. Florida had plenty of encouraging examples:
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Hotels: Some offered rooms specially designed for hearing-impaired guests, with external buttons that triggered flashing lights and high-pitched sounds inside the room. The Lido Beach Resort in Sarasota provided wristbands with embedded tokens that opened hotel room doors—a surprisingly simple and effective accessible solution.
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Public Parks: Certain picnic tables were marked as disabled-accessible, designed to accommodate wheelchairs comfortably.
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Restaurants & Public Spaces: Most had disabled parking bays, and staff were generally attentive—holding doors, offering help, and showing consideration. Small gestures really do make a difference.
Flying with Virgin Atlantic
We also want to give a big shout-out to Virgin Atlantic. On our recent trip, the crew took extra time to go through safety procedures in detail, making sure everything was clear and accessible.
One challenge, however, was the in-flight touchscreen system. Since it’s the only way to call for assistance, blind passengers are effectively locked out. Fortunately, Wayne, one of the crew members on VS130 (16th August), came up with a creative solution: he placed tactile paper dots on the screen to help identify where to press. It required three taps to reach the call function, but it kinda worked—and that kind of problem-solving makes travel so much easier. But Virgin should consider some sort of physical buzzer that can alert the crew to a passenger in need. The future version of their VERA entertainment system should include a physical call button.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a disabled traveller—or supporting one—don’t be put off by the idea of visiting Florida. With a bit of planning, you can enjoy the sunshine state to its fullest.
Our biggest tip? Take the time to get a temporary disabled placard. It’s quick, affordable, and makes a huge difference to your independence and peace of mind.
Accessibility is improving, and while there are still barriers to overcome, we found countless examples of people and places making thoughtful efforts to be inclusive.
