Fostering Abilities, Creating Community

For over 80 years, Hillside in Santa Barbara has been committed to building a community of compassion and dignity for people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Michael Rassler, Hillside’s President/CEO, notes that “The disabled community is the largest minority group in the nation. In addition to the health and welfare of residents, we focus on integration, inclusion, and acceptance. Real inclusion means Hillside residents aren’t on the outside looking in, but that they are an active, fully engaged, and intricate part of the mosaic that is Santa Barbara.”

Being part of the community means that it is Hillside’s responsibility to make sure residents experience and enjoy all that Santa Barbara has to offer.

“Hillside was recently awarded a grant to purchase wheelchairs specially designed to navigate all terrains. Residents can now go to the beach and into the water!” says Rassler. “Some people at Hillside have lived in Santa Barbara their entire life, and have never been to the beach. They had never dipped their toes in the water until last year. And the smiles on their faces and the joy expressed, it’s incredible.” 

Hillside was founded in 1945, in part with the help of Hollywood director George Cukor, whose niece lived with cerebral palsy. Eighty years later, Hillside remains one of the country’s most reputable residential communities for people living with moderate to severe intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD). As an intermediate care facility (ICF), Hillside is home for up to 59 full-time residents with varying disabilities such as: cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and autism.

Procuring these adaptive wheelchairs is just one example of Hillside’s commitment to inclusion and integration for their residents. Having access to the greater Santa Barbara community truly enriches their lives.

Active engagement is only possible thanks to Hillside’s dedicated and incredible team of professionals. For a population that’s over 80% non-ambulatory, every trip to the beach, to a concert, even to Disneyland, requires the costly, but necessary help of one-on-one aides. It is no small task to arrange and execute these trips. However, these professionals ensure residents’ safety and comprehensive care during every outing, and that truly makes all the difference. 

Or, as resident Brad puts it, “Hillside helps me do the things I always wanted to do.”