Hundreds of people gathered at De la Guerra Plaza in Santa Barbara on Saturday in a rally to Unite For Disability Rights of people with disabilities.

Attendees included individuals with disabilities, elected officials, parents, caregivers and friends.

The impetus for the rally came from a group of mothers who have children with disabilities, and were frustrated after House Republicans passed a budget resolution that includes $880 billion in cuts that would severely threaten Medicaid funding and decimate the disability community.

The moms decided to speak up and unite the community. The greatest impact, they believed, would come from self-advocates.

“People with disabilities speaking on their own behalf was the greatest victory of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the most important piece of civil rights legislation for this community,” the moms said.

At the rally, self-advocates Chelsea and Jacob Lesner-Buxton; and 23-year-old Ryan Fitch, a YouTuber, shared their stories and pumped up the crowd with their energy, passion, humor, and commitment to life-long advocacy on behalf of their peers with disabilities.

Five moms spoke of the need to remind Washington, D.C., to “Stop the Cuts!”

Parents Melissa Fitch, Jennifer Griffin, Felisa Strickland, Carrie McKiddie, and Cintya Diaz discussed the services their families depend on to support their loved ones, and offer them a chance to live healthy, happy lives as promised in the California Lanterman Act of 1969.

Elected officials who spoke were County Supervisor Laura Capps, who chairs the Board of Supervisors; district directors from the offices of State Sen. Monique Limon; Assemblymember Gregg Hart; and Congressman Salud Carbajal provided a written message.

At the conclusion of the speeches, the crowd marched up State Street to raise awareness, engage, and educate the Santa Barbara community.

As one mom said, “The disabled community is one club that anyone can join at any time.”