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July 2009
In This Issue
Community Partners: Cornerstone House
Zoo to You Brings Wild Animals; Linda Vega Dancers to Perform
Obama Signs Disabilities' Rights Treaty
Westmont Students Volunteer at Hillside House
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Greetings!

With this issue of our e-newsletter Happenings, we have completed one full year of monthly newsletters and are beginning our second.  Taking into account the often overwhelming amount of information we know many people receive in their email inboxes, we have decided to start sending the newsletter every other month.  We love being able to keep you informed on happenings at Hillside House and relevant news, and frankly, there's often a lot to share.  We are keeping this issue short because we're about to send out our Annual Report and don't want to give away all the good news. 

We welcome your feedback on what you would like included in our newsletters.  Please write to us at: [email protected] with your comments and suggestions.

Happy Summer!

The Staff at Hillside House
 

Community Partners: Cornerstone HouseSummer Camp

Two of our youngest residents are off to summer camp this August. Dylan and Emily will both be attending Happy Adventure Summer Camp in Santa Barbara during the days. The camp is a program of Cornerstone House in Carpinteria that provides disabled children and young adults with the opportunity to experience the joys of summer camp.  Activities include: Swimming, trips to the beach and Sea Center, Santa Barbara Zoo, Museum of Natural History, arts and crafts, ceramics, bowling, roller skating, barbecues and more.

Zoo to You Brings Wild Animals; Linda Vega Dancers to Perform
 
Desert foxOn Saturday, July 11 the Parents Group of Hillside House hosted an afternoon program featuring Zoo to You.  The organization brings wild animals along for an entertaining and educational program, in which residents get to meet and touch some of the animals and learn about them.  The desert fox was a hit this year. 

On Thursday, July 23 young dancers from the Linda Vega Dance Studio performed flamenco for our residents.  Linda Vega is a highly respected local teacher, dancer and choreographer, who was honored for her dedication to the art form in 2007 with an award from the mayor of Santa Barbara
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Obama Signs Disabilities' Rights Treaty escrip 3ways

President Barack Obama signed the international Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on Friday, July 24, joining 140 other countries in supporting this treaty.  The signing coincides with the 19th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Marca Bristo, President of United States International Council on Disabilities said, "By signing this treaty the U.S. is reaffirming its commitment to basic human rights of all people with disabilities and positioning us to better contribute our expertise on the global level."

Obama spoke about his father-in-law, Fraser Robinson, who had multiple sclerosis, and about the national movement for rights for people with disabilities, ""Like all great movements, this one did not begin or end in Washington, D.C. It began in small towns and big cities across this country. It began with people like Fraser Robinson showing that they can be full contributors to society regardless of the lack of awareness of others. It began when people refused to accept a second-class status in America. It began when they not only refused to accept the way the world saw them, but also the way they had seen themselves."

The United Nations estimates there are more than 650 million people with disabilities around the world, 10% of the world's population.  The treaty enhances opportunities for community access, employment, and the attainment of a reasonable standard of living for all people affected by disability. "This treaty reflects the unique insights of disabled people from around the world. The participation of disabled people in decision-making about policies affecting our lives is changing the way we are regarded in our communities and by our governments," says Judy Heumann, former Clinton Administration appointee, board member of USICD, and participant in the negotiations to draft the treaty.
 
Westmont Students Volunteer at Hillside House


escrip 3waysThe Kinesiology program at Westmont College trains students in the study of human movement with courses in anatomy and physiology, nutrition, biomechanics, sport psychology, gerontology and research, among others. Part of the coursework is a class called "Special Populations."  As part of this class, students are required to volunteer at various local facilities.  Ten students from the Westmont course volunteered at Hillside House this past spring, spending about 20 hours each with our residents.  They were a wonderful, fun-loving group of young people, who gave our residents some one-on-one time that was enjoyed by all.  They played games with residents, took them for walks, helped them use the internet and more.
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1235 Veronica Springs Rd.
Santa Barbara, California 93105
(805) 687-0788
www.hillsidehousesb.org