OCALA, FL (352Today.com) – In a recent meeting at Purrs and Pages in Ocala, Xander Edwards listened as Matt Gray, the co-owner of the cat café and bookstore, raved about the quality of work coming from Beyond Able Apparel. You could see Xander beaming with pride because it was his work. The teenager, who once only cared about watching construction, had become a key part of the production process, operating the heat press with growing confidence and even claiming ownership over “his” machine.
Moments like these capture the heart of what Brenda Pullara and her team are building: not just apparel, but purpose, pride and possibility for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Ocala.
Beyond Able Apparel is a new nonprofit venture founded by Pullara, a special education teacher and special needs mom, alongside Robin Edwards. Launched at the end of November 2025, just over six months ago, the company partners with participants like Pullara’s 14-year-old daughter Ruby Hutchinson and Edwards’ 19-year-old son Xander to create custom screen-printed and DTF (direct-to-film) apparel.
What started as a conversation with Edwards during Pullara’s podcast, “TruthBTold: Special Needs Parenting,” has grown into a hands-on program offering participants a creative outlet, a sense of accomplishment and a place where they truly belong.
“I started a special needs parenting podcast, and Robin was the first person that I interviewed, and during the interview, we talked about what it would take for kids like ours to have a job,” Pullara said.
“So, it would basically be like someone would have to be hired to watch them. They would get their wages, and our kids would get their wages, and where would you find that? It wouldn’t exist because our kids are more on the severe side. They would need constant supervision and assistance,” she continued.
About a month later, Pullara had a sudden vision for modifying equipment and workflows to make apparel production safe and accessible for participants with significant disabilities. She immediately reached out to Edwards and said, ‘We’ve got to try this.’
That spark led to a meeting with the mayor of the city of Ocala, Ben Marciano, and eventually a successful partnership with Arc of Marion County.
“When that barrier was met, I went back to Robin and was like, ‘Okay, we have to try this.’ And the rest was history,” Pullara said.
The operation remains volunteer-based for now, with participants handling steps they can manage, such as Xander managing the press (pulling the handle, applying Teflon, activating the cycle and safely removing shirts) and Ruby excelling at folding, packaging and even serving as the in-house DJ. Adults provide oversight for alignment, quality control and order fulfillment.
Custom designs often come from the participants themselves or from business and campaign clients.
“We have done shirts for businesses and campaign shirts for different people that are running for the upcoming election,” Pullara shared.
Local campaign clients have included commissioners Jeff Bairstow and Matt Cretul, along with repeat business customers such as Sarao Services and the Dungeons and Dragons Club at Beacon College.
Products are available via their Shopify site (featuring awareness designs and Beyond Able originals), with custom orders welcomed through their Facebook page. Local customers frequently pick up orders at headquarters, where participants proudly hand over the finished goods.
According to Pullara, the Ocala community has responded warmly, with positive feedback and growing engagement on social media. Yet awareness remains the biggest challenge.
“Robin and I are both special needs moms. We do have some other special needs moms that are sharing our posts and things like that. But we’re just trying to get the awareness that we exist, what we’re able to do and that’s just been our biggest challenge, just letting people know that we’re here,” Pullara said.
For Pullara, this work is deeply personal and “a work of heart.” It ensures her daughter and others like her will have a place to belong long after aging out of school. Goals for the coming year focus on a steady weekly workflow to keep the participants engaged, continued community outreach and sharing the inspiring stories unfolding inside their workspace.
“This is definitely out of my heart. When I became a special needs teacher, the special needs part kind of landed in my lap. I was actually hesitant to become a special needs teacher because I was worried that if I taught special needs and I lived it, that it would burn me out. And actually, you know, in some ways, I am more tired, but I ended up creating a nonprofit with special needs, too, because there is such a need there. There is such a need, and it takes a special person to understand them. It takes a special person to treat them the way that they deserve to be treated, like humans,” Pullara said.
Readers can support Beyond Able Apparel by following and sharing their Facebook posts, spreading awareness to businesses in need of apparel, or placing orders. In doing so, they help turn pride like Xander’s into a sustained opportunity for many more.