Tampa

Tampa Convention Center Enhances Inclusivity with Distract Paks and Bilingual Emergency Cards

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Published on January 26, 2026
Tampa Convention Center Enhances Inclusivity with Distract Paks and Bilingual Emergency CardsSource: City of Tampa

The Tampa Convention Center is introducing new accessibility features for individuals who may find crowded events overwhelming or face challenges with emergency communication.

The center now offers Distract Paks to help with sensory overload and Emergency Communication Cards in Spanish and English. At the recent Florida Music Education Association Conference, a child benefited from these tools when the crowd became overwhelming.

The City of Tampa website notes that these efforts are part of a collaboration with the University of South Florida's Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) to train employees and event staff on supporting guests with autism and sensory sensitivities.

The Tampa Convention Center has long prioritized accessibility, training with USF’s CARD to better support visitors with sensory sensitivities. The new resources continue this effort, reflecting the center’s commitment to inclusivity for all guests.