Inclusion Cayman Offers Certified Accessibility Audits to Strengthen Inclusive Communities

Today, on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Inclusion Cayman joins our global community in celebrating the rights, contributions, and lived experiences of persons with disabilities. This day is a powerful reminder that inclusion is a collective effort, built by families, educators, businesses, civic leaders, and neighbours who believe that every individual deserves to belong. For more than 15 years, Inclusion Cayman has been honoured to walk alongside families and community partners in creating pathways to meaningful inclusion across education, employment, and community life. Our programs, grounded in international best practices and shaped by the voices of those we serve, have demonstrated time and again that when barriers are removed, people thrive — and so does our community. Our Approach: Guided by the Social Model of Disability Inclusion Cayman is firmly rooted in the Social Model of Disability, which understands that people are disabled not by their impairments, but by the barriers placed in front of them: physical, attitudinal, systemic, and informational. When those barriers are removed, access and participation follow naturally. This model guides all aspects of our work: 

● Supporting inclusive classrooms where all learners can participate. 

● Guiding employers in building accessible, equitable workplaces. 

● Engaging persons with disabilities in the community life activities that all citizens enjoy. 

● Helping families navigate complex systems with confidence. 

● Advocating for universal design — ensuring spaces, products, and communications are created to be accessible from the very start. Our team may be small, but we are deeply experienced, nimble, and committed to working collaboratively with our community to transform the Cayman Islands into a place where inclusion is not an aspiration, but a lived reality. Free Supports for Families & Community Partners Our trained facilitators combine professional expertise and lived experience to provide free, personalized support to families across all three islands. We believe that cost should never be a barrier to access to knowledge, advocacy, support services and inclusion resources. Introducing Inclusion Cayman’s CPACC-Certified Accessibility Auditor We are especially proud to highlight Nathan Chesney, who recently earned his CPACC (Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies) credential, making him one of the only CPACC-certified accessibility auditors in the Cayman Islands. Nathan brings internationally recognized training in accessibility standards, inclusive design, and barrier identification. Through his leadership, Inclusion Cayman offers free accessibility audits for: - Businesses and organisations - Schools and early childhood centres - Public agencies - Community spaces and events - Private sector workplaces After each audit, our team sits with the entity to develop practical, organic strategies for improvement, ensuring accessibility is integrated sustainably, respectfully, and with community needs at the centre. Request a Free Accessibility Audit Any organisation, business, or community group can request a free accessibility audit and report presentation using the link below: Request an Audit Here: inclusioncayman.ky/accessibility-audit-request We welcome all entities (large or small) to partner with us in building a more accessible and inclusive Cayman Islands. PRESS RELEASE A Message from Our CEO, Shan Harriman “As a community, how we understand disability shapes everything, from the way we design our buildings to the way we communicate, educate, and interact with one another. In some places, disability is framed as a condition that individuals must overcome. But in settings that embrace the social model, disability is understood as the result of barriers created by society. This is the belief that guides Inclusion Cayman: that people are not the problem, barriers are. And where barriers exist, there is opportunity for design, education, innovation, and meaningful change. For over fifteen years, our organisation has worked hand-in-hand with families, educators, employers, and community partners to advance this understanding. We remain committed to a Cayman Islands where accessibility is built in, not bolted on; where inclusion is intentional; and where every person feels they belong.” Together, with our community, we will continue to champion a Cayman Islands where every person, of every ability, can participate, contribute, and thrive.