When you walk into the WindReach Bermuda petting zoo, you are instantly greeted by Eeyore the donkey and Tilly the miniature horse as they come to the fence to meet you.

You soon catch the goats’ attention, and they curiously wander over to see if you have any tasty snacks for them.

The birds, Moon and Sky, tweet excitedly from the aviary, and the guinea pigs chatter with each other in their hutches.

The sights, sounds and smells of the petting zoo surround you, but for a person with special needs, this sudden, intense stimulation of the senses can be overwhelming and uncomfortable.

Since WindReach was officially opened in 1999, it has served Bermuda’s special needs community with its fully accessible grounds and therapeutic programmes, and made a difference in the lives of people with a broad range of abilities and needs.

The petting zoo is a vital resource in the improvement of lives at WindReach, offering non-judgmental acceptance from the animals, an opportunity to improve fine and gross motor skills, social interactions and various other benefits, all in a fun and sensory environment.

The use of Animal-Assisted Intervention in therapy has been proven to decrease depression and increase confidence and self-esteem, as participants build relationships with the animals.

However, in a setting which is already highly stimulating, it is important that participants be able to focus on the animals, and not be distracted or overstimulated by other senses.

The WindReach Bermuda team has been continuously working to improve the experience by decreasing unnecessary stimulation in the petting zoo through organisation and modifications.

Well-lit, organised surroundings are proven to be the best learning and therapeutic environment for people with special needs, particularly those with autism or similar conditions.

The biggest transformation has been the painting of the inside of the petting zoo, which is intended to brighten the space and allow those who take part in therapeutic programmes to get the most out of their experience.

The new eggshell hue avoids patterns or too much colour, which may overstimulate visitors and make them uncomfortable, and instead the earth-tone is calming and enables people with special needs to direct their attention towards their experience with the animals, as opposed to being distracted by their surroundings.

With these adjustments, WindReach Bermuda hopes that it will maximise the attention and abilities of its visitors, enhance their overall experience and will continue to serve Bermuda’s special needs community.