Advocacy in action
The Inclusion Cayman Journey
Over 15 years of service
Started by parents, sustained by advocates
We didn’t begin as an organisation, we started as a movement. A group of parents, advocates, and community members in the Cayman Islands came together with a shared belief: every person deserves to belong, participate, and thrive. What began as grassroots advocacy has grown into a national voice for inclusion.
2008
The Birth of the Special Needs Foundation Cayman (SNFC)
In 2008, a small but committed group of parents launched the Special Needs Foundation Cayman, driven by the urgent need for advocacy, support, and community for families of children with developmental and intellectual disabilities. This early foundation provided information, education, and a collective voice where none had existed before. The organisation quickly became a trusted resource for families navigating systemic barriers in education, social life, and community participation.
2018
A decade after our founding, the Special Needs Foundation opened its own physical space and expanded its team.
This milestone enabled us to broaden our support services, offering direct assistance, training, and community outreach that reached more families across the three islands of the Cayman Islands. It marked an evolution from grassroots support group to a community resource hub.
2020
A New Identity
In October 2020, we embraced a bold new name and identity: Inclusion Cayman. Our new name carried a clear message: inclusion isn’t a label, it’s belonging everywhere.
This change signified a shift from responding to individual needs toward championing systemic inclusion across education, employment, and community life.
2020-2024
From 2020 to 2024, we expanded our impact and built capacity within the community. During this period, we launched evidence-based training, inclusive-practice coaching for schools and workplaces, and an employment program developed in collaboration with community partners. Our work focused on supporting families and individuals at every step of their journey: from diagnosis through education, employment, and life skills development. We also took a stronger stance on policy advocacy, partnering with government to drive systemic change.
By the end of this period, our organisation had become a trusted partner to educators, employers, families, and policymakers.
2025
A milestone year for our team, we hired three Inclusion Facilitators and expanded our work across our 3 key service pillars. Read our 2025 Impact Report HERE.
Across education, employment, and community life, 2025 demonstrated the organisation’s growing reach and its commitment to removing barriers for persons with disabilities.
2026
Uncharted: Inclusion Cayman’s Inaugural Family Conference
On 14 March 2026, Inclusion Cayman hosted its inaugural family conference, Uncharted 2026, a first-of-its-kind national gathering focused on advancing inclusion, accessibility, and equitable opportunities across the Cayman Islands. The conference addressed the reality many families know well: that navigating life as a parent, sibling, or loved one of someone with a disability often means charting unfamiliar territory, from securing educational support to accessing health services and employment pathways.
Designed as a recurring platform for dialogue and action, Uncharted 2026 marked a significant milestone in our expanding advocacy and community-building efforts.
sOON COME
Best Buddies Cayman Islands
Here is the rewritten section in first person:
In January 2026, our team announced a strategic partnership with Best Buddies International to establish their signature Friendship Program in the Cayman Islands, with plans to grow into additional programme areas over time.
We were proud to publicly unveil the launch at our Uncharted 2026 conference, where Minister for Education and Training Rolston Anglin described the development as a practical step toward embedding inclusion in everyday school life. The programme pairs students with intellectual and developmental disabilities with peer buddies who help, advocate for, and build lasting friendships with them throughout their school years.
Our organisation introduced Best Buddies not as a standalone initiative, but as part of our broader commitment to embedding inclusion in daily life, with social isolation among individuals with IDD identified as one of the most persistent challenges we are working to address. Led locally by our CEO Shan Harriman, the Cayman Islands chapter marks a meaningful step forward in advancing Best Buddies’ mission across the Caribbean region, and we are only just getting started.