Santa Barbara Mayor Honors Local Inclusion Leaders
The 21st Annual Mayor's Awards celebrated community entities and leaders for their commitment to accessibility.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Awards
Live Poll
Should local businesses in your community prioritize hiring practices focused on inclusivity for people with disabilities?
Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse hosted the 21st Annual Mayor's Awards at the Cabrillo Pavilion to recognize organizations and individuals promoting inclusion. The event highlighted efforts to improve employment opportunities and environments for people with disabilities.
Why it matters
These awards honor local leaders and businesses for advancing accessibility and inclusive hiring practices within the community. The ceremony was held during National Disability Employment Awareness Month to emphasize the importance of creating equitable workplaces.
The awards recognized four distinct recipients, including Santa Barbara City College and Deckers, for their commitment to accessibility. PathPoint, a nonprofit founded in 1964, provides support services across five counties.
The players
Randy Rowse
He is the Mayor of Santa Barbara who presided over the annual awards ceremony.
Pearl Moratilla
She is an office manager at PathPoint who delivered the keynote speech at the event.
PathPoint
This is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1964 that provides services across five counties.
Santa Barbara City College
This local educational institution was recognized with the Mayor's ADA Legacy Award.
Deckers
This local business received the Beyond Barriers Business Award for its inclusive practices.
The details
Recipients included Santa Barbara City College, the Santa Barbara Public Library, Deckers, and Anita Kwok of Rosewood Miramar Beach. Keynote speaker Pearl Moratilla, an office manager at PathPoint who joined the organization via a Department of Rehabilitation referral, shared insights on workplace inclusion.
Timeline
PathPoint was founded in 1964.
National Disability Employment Awareness Month took place in October 2026.
The 21st Annual Mayor's Awards were held on October 21, 2026.
Culture Shift
The city's focus on the Americans with Disabilities Act mirrors broader efforts to enhance accessibility in public spaces. These awards extend the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act by incentivizing local entities to exceed standard legal accessibility requirements.
Residents may see increased accessibility improvements at local educational and business facilities following these recognitions. These initiatives encourage broader participation in the workforce for individuals with disabilities across the city.
The takeaway
The event underscores the value of community-wide partnerships in creating accessible and inclusive environments for all citizens. Readers can advocate for similar inclusivity standards in their own workplaces to support diverse hiring practices.
Further reading
Learn more about local community honors on the Santa Barbara Awards page.
More information
For more information on employment resources, visit the PathPoint organization website.
Live Poll
Should local businesses in your community prioritize hiring practices focused on inclusivity for people with disabilities?
