Hillside Celebrates National Disability Independence Day with a Festival!

Saturday, July 26th at Hillside

 Hillside is excited to announce its first ever Disability Independence Day Festival on the front grounds of Hillside, 1235 Veronica Springs Road, on Saturday, July 26, 2025, from 11am to 3pm. This family-friendly event is open to the entire community. It will be a carnival-like atmosphere with food booths, games, a bouncy house, face painting, and a petting zoo.  DJ of Ability, Chris Benedict, will play his dance-inspiring music from 12-2pm. A raffle held at the end of the event gives you a chance to win one of three wonderful gift baskets. Hillside Honey, harvested at Hillside, will be available for purchase. There is even a chance to dunk Hillside’s President and CEO, Michael Rassler, in the dunk tank! 

Entry is free, and tickets can be purchased for food and games at a nominal cost. Present at the Festival will be booths from local partner nonprofits who provide supportive services for the disabled, including Tri-Counties Regional Center, Alpha Resource Center, PathPoint, and the Grace Fisher Foundation. Sponsors for this event include BrightStar Care, CenCal Health, and longtime Hillside supporter, Community Friends of Santa Barbara (formerly known as Assistance League of Santa Barbara). Local contributors include: McConnell’s Ice Cream, San Marcos Farms, Boy Scout Troop #37, Moxi, Wheel Fun Rentals, Chaucer’s Bookstore, Terra Sol Garden Center, Trader Joe’s, Lotusland, Dirty Dog Wash & Goods, MarBorg, and Aloes in Wonderland.

More details on the Festival can be found on Hillside’s website at www.hillsidesb.org or by scanning the QR code below. All proceeds benefit the residents of Hillside who are living with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As a unique and loving home in Santa Barbara for this population for the past 80 years, Hillside is committed to advocating for equity and inclusion for its residents and the entire community. Hillside provides 24 hour medical care, individualized therapeutic treatments, life-skills training, and engaging recreational activities and outings designed to promote their abilities and independence. 

National Disability Independence Day, celebrated annually on July 26, commemorates passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the landmark civil rights law prohibiting discrimination against those with disabilities. The largest minority group in the world is people with disabilities. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 15% of the world’s population, or over one billion people, live with some form of disability. This includes physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental health impairments. This number is expected to increase as the world’s population ages, and as more people survive injuries and illnesses that would have been fatal in the past. This group of people is considered as a minority due to the lack of accessibility and social inclusion that they face in many societies. They are often excluded from education, employment, and other opportunities, and they may face discrimination and stigma. Their rights, inclusion, and well-being are of the utmost importance. Come and celebrate the achievements, abilities, and diversity of individuals with disabilities at Hillside on July 26th!

Stay up to date about the Festival and all things Hillside by following us on social media! Instagram: @hillsidesantabarbara and Facebook: @hillsidehousesb. For information about supporting Hillside and the residents, please visit www.hillsidesb.org, or contact Cheryl Sweeney, Chief Development Officer at csweeney@hillsidesb.org or 805-687-0788 x123.