A trip to Florida for a group of adults with support needs and disabilities was a resounding success according to its organisers.

Beyond Inclusion raised enough cash to fly eight participants to Orlando in February for a fully funded, five-day, four-night leisure trip of a lifetime.

Rebecca Lawrence, a cofounder of the charity, told The Royal Gazette that individuals with certain needs and disabilities often found themselves only able to travel for medical reasons but that everyone deserved joy.

She said: “Thanks to the community, we were able to fundraise over $40,000 to provide a fully funded travel opportunity for our participants on this inaugural trip.

“During the trip, the group participated in a variety of activities, including visits to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Icon Park, SeaLife Aquarium, Cirque du Soleil, Florida Mall, and still made time for fun back at the Airbnb with movies, pyjama parties and a build-your-own-dessert party.

“Some standout moments included the safari ride at Animal Kingdom, where participants saw animals such as giraffes, lions and elephants in real life. For several individuals, this was incredibly exciting as they had previously only seen some of these animals before in movies.

“Another highlight was the shopping experience at Florida Mall. Each participant was given $150, provided by a donor, to spend however they wanted, which encouraged independence and personal choice. Popular stops included Claire’s, tech and gaming stores, Crayola, hat stores, and two participants even chose to try massages, which was a first time experience for them.”

The group included eight adults with support needs: Latoya Boorman, Kalisha Trott, Sophia McElheny, Milika Bean, Shala Muhammad, Re’Chai Young, Chad Grant and LeiJay Rogers.

They were supported by five staff members, including Ms Lawrence as well as Brianna Ball-Roach, another cofounder of Beyond Inclusion, Christopher Bean, Ci're Bean and Mikayla DeShields, along with videographer Tricray Astwood, who documented the experience.

Travel to and from Orlando was arranged with the help of TripBDA utilising both BermudAir and American Airlines.

Ms Ball-Roach said accommodation was a 15-bed Airbnb, which was special for many participants as they were excited to experience having their own space yet being close enough to their friends to socialise.

She said that dinner times were particularly impactful as the participants were excited to discuss what they planned to order.

Ms Ball-Roach said: “All throughout the trip, they would take the time to thank us for a fun day and make comments like ‘I can’t believe this is actually happening’ or ‘I’ve waited a really long time for this’.

“Sometimes they’d say nothing but after a fun moment they’d just run over and hug us with bright eyes and a big smile on their face, which was really touching to watch them enjoy themselves without any limits or barriers.

“Additionally, the level of inclusion and accessibility we experienced throughout the trip was not only noticeable, but genuinely impactful.

“When fatigue set in at the theme parks, a simple conversation with staff resulted in courtesy wheelchairs being made readily available for some of our participants, and the universally designed spaces allowed us to move and still participate with ease.

“We were consistently supported to go at our own pace, without pressure, ensuring that everyone could fully participate in each moment, whether that was ordering from a menu or even just entering or exiting a space, without feeling rushed or overlooked.

“Other accommodations that exist also gave us the flexibility to leave and rejoin long lines and even bypass lengthy wait times on some rides.”

She said that even beyond the systems in place, the group experienced genuine moments of kindness such as staff seeking them out after they had already exited a ride to offer them another turn without having to rejoin a line.

“All of these moments were so refreshing because it showed what true inclusion looks like in practice,” she added.

“That it’s not just about access, but intentional, thoughtful support that allows everyone to feel seen, valued and included, which is everything Beyond Inclusion stands for.”

Ms Ball-Roach and Ms Lawrence said that they were extremely grateful for the support that made the trip possible, especially from the title sponsor The Lady Cubitt Compassionate Association.

They also thanked Davinci Dental Services, the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the Trustees of Project 100, TripBDA, the board of Beyond Inclusion, the participants and their families, and Bermuda as a whole for “really showing up to support this one-of-a-kind experience”.

Ms Lawrence added: “Looking ahead, our goal is to offer this opportunity on an annual basis.

“We plan to alternate annually between fully funded trips and partially subsidised trips with the aim of creating a sustainable fundraising model while continuing to expand access to travel.

“We look forward to announcing the travel location for the 2027 Passport to Possibilities trip in April.”

More photographs, as well as video content, are available on Beyond Inclusion’s Instagram page.