Disability Brings Both Tragedy and Opportunity
 Gayle Slate was just twenty years old, when her daughter Dana was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth. Dana was eventually moved to Hillside House and lived with us for several years. She died in 1970 at the age of 14. Although she felt initially that she never wanted to hear the word "disability" again, several years after Dana's death, Gayle went back to school and became a pioneering psychotherapist working with families, who are dealing with disability. Gayle also founded Kids Included Together (KIT) in 1997, a nonprofit that trains organizations throughout the United States to integrate children with disabilities in their after school, social and recreational programs.
Gayle has just published Dana's Legacy: From Heartbreak to Healing, an honest-eyed and yet inspirational story of her journey with her daughter from despair through the trials and triumphs of parenting this unique child to how the experience led her to find her own path in life. It is a journey of hope and optimism, of finding the opportunities that life's challenges present, and it is a guide for families to help them trust their own inner guidance and find well-being in the face of conflicting information and difficult feelings. The book is a resource for parents and others, seeking understanding and inspiration, and has been called "a must-read for any parent dealing with a child disability" (Rick Shepard, Forever Broadcasting, Pennsylvania).
Gayle writes: "Being told I'd given birth to a daughter with cerebral palsy was the worst moment of my life - but also the moment my real life's work began. Only 20 years old, I struggled over the following decades and did a lot wrong. Gradually, though, I learned to see and accept the wisdom of Helen Keller, no stranger to disability, when she said, 'When one door of happiness closes, another opens.' And the aim of this book is not just to tell my story but also to point the way for others toward that open door."
Gayle recently wrote to one of Hillside House's Board members: "Although Dana died in 1970, Hillside House has always held a special place in my heart as you will see in my book." We are happy to learn of her book and hope it will offer hope, inspiration and practical help. www.danaslegacy.com
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MaryBeth Goes to Hollywood!
 MaryBeth, one of our residents, recently took at trip with the organization Get Out!, which helps realize "travel opportunities for anyone who needs assistance in getting out and about and living their lives in the fullest way possible." Along with another woman named Nancy, MaryBeth and the staff of Get Out! went on an amazing, fun-filled trip to Hollywood.
Denyse Barnes of Get Out! reports: "We stayed in a hotel in Hollywood and spent the first evening cruising Hollywood boulevard and visiting the wax museum. We had dinner on the boulevard and went and found some of our favorite stars and shopped for souvenirs.
"On the second day we went to Universal Studios and did the studio tour. We saw where lots of movies had been made, and they were filming Desperate Housewives that day. Once the park had closed and we had seen all of the shows--including Water World and the Animal show--we walked for a while up City Walk and then went to Red Robin for our dinner as that is Nancy's favorite place to eat.
"On the last morning we took another short drive around Hollywood before leaving for Santa Barbara. We drove the Pacific Coast Highway home for the scenery and looked for dolphins along the way." Wow! A thoroughly satisfying adventure from MaryBeth's perspective.
While taking an outing like that might be simple for most people, realizing such opportunities for the severely disabled is a real challenge. Yet these kinds of opportunities to experience life beyond Hillside House are so important for our residents and are something we are committed to making available whenever we can. Some of our residents are able to afford such trips from earnings they make or thanks to provisions from their families, but for those who would otherwise not be able to participate in these adventures, the Board of Directors of Hillside House has recently established the Nancy Read Life Enrichment Fund, in honor of long-time Board member and volunteer Nancy Read. Donations to this fund will provide our less financially-fortunate residents the chance to take trips of their own. If you would like to make a donation to the Nancy Read Life Enrichment Fund, click here and put "Life Enrichment Fund" in the "Designation" box. Here's to adventure!
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Charitable Auction Helps Hillside House
 Thanks to the generosity of Board Member Silvio DiLoreto and winemaker Antonio Gardella, Hillside House is auctioning off two week-long stays at a beautiful condominium on Kauai and one case of some of the finest "home produced" wine in America. All of the proceeds will benefit the residents of Hillside House, providing for the spending gap between what we receive from state payments and the actual cost of providing high-quality care in Santa Barbara.
The auction will be held on Thursday, May 21 as part of our annual Women of Purpose fund raising luncheon. We would love to have you join us for this inspirational event, which will feature singer-songwriter Bree Noble, plus a delicious lunch and the enjoyment of the lovely gardens of El Mirador. To register now for the event, just click on: http://womenofpurpose2009.eventbrite.com
But even if you cannot attend, you can still bid on these wonderful items in advance of the luncheon. Details follow:
Two week-long stays at The Cliffs in Princeville, Kauai. A one-bedroom condo in pristine Kauai, lush with amenities, including tennis courts, swimming pool and jacuzzies, volleyball court, mini putting green and much more. http://cliffsatprinceville.com
One mixed case (12 bottles) of the fine wines of Companeros, perhaps the finest "home produced" wine in the United States. These wines are highly prized, have won numerous awards, and are only available through charitable auctions, a rare find for connoisseurs.
For those unable to attend, we will be taking bids on these auction items in advance of the luncheon. Advance bids must be received by 4 pm on Wednesday, May 20.
If you or someone you know would like to place a bid, please contact Curt Lauber in the Hillside House Development Department at (805) 687-0788 ext. 15 or clauber@hillsidehousesb.org.
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President's Budget Includes Increased Disability Spending
Michelle Diamant of Disability Scoop writes: "President Barack Obama's budget proposal for fiscal year 2010 includes increased funds for employment assistance for people with disabilities as well as autism research and awareness, among other programs." For details of the proposals relating to disability spending, click here.
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