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A Santa Barbara organization is using its holiday light display to illuminate the abilities of residents

Hillside Santa Barbara has a holiday light display to shine light on the abilities of its residents
Hillside
Hillside Santa Barbara has a holiday light display to shine light on the abilities of its residents

Hillside is a residential home for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Across the tri-counties, there are some stunning festive displays of lights and decorations.

At Hillside Santa Barbara, a residential home for 59 people with intellectual and physical disabilities, for the 6th year they are showcasing the abilities of residents with their display.

Michael Padden-Rubin - the Director of development for Hillside Santa Barbara – gets emotional as he speaks of the impact on residents on having an inclusive holiday light display at the residential home - which includes an adaptive sleigh that can fit a wheelchair.

He says that their holiday light display is not just a chance for residents, staff and visitors to enjoy a festive display, but for residents of Hillside to have a shining light on their abilities.

"The joy that was on their faces when they were in that adaptive sleigh, they were so happy they could fully participate in that display," he told KCLU.

Admission is free and the display starts at sunset – and continues every evening until December 31st.

Caroline joined KCLU in October 2020. She's won LA Press Club's Southern California Audio Journalist of the Year Award four times, in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2026.

Since joining the station she's also been awarded with 12 Golden Mikes, 9 Los Angeles Press Club Journalism Awards, 4 National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards and five Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for Excellence in Writing, Diversity, Use of Sound & more.

Caroline started her broadcasting career in the UK, in both radio and television for BBC News, London's number one station 95.8 Capital FM, and Sky News — and was awarded by Prince Philip for her services to radio and journalism in 2007.

She has lived in California for 13 years and is a duel American and British citizen...and a very proud mom to her daughter, Elsie.