Art can be transformative.
Perhaps no one knows that better than Grace Fisher, a fourth-generation Santa Barbaran diagnosed with Acute Flaccid Myelitis at 17, a disease that paralyzed her from the neck down. When Fisher was introduced to music therapy and adaptive art at Denver’s Craig Rehabilitation Hospital, she vowed to return home and bring something similar to Santa Barbara.
The Grace Fisher Foundation is dedicated to enriching the lives of those with disabilities through the arts. It seeks “to create a more vibrant and inclusive society where the arts become a powerful tool for connection, understanding, and personal growth.”
Two years ago, the Grace Fisher Foundation opened the Inclusive Arts Clubhouse in La Cumbre Plaza. The space offers artistic programming for children of all abilities with creative spaces, a dance floor, a gallery wall, and quiet zones.
“In 2025, the Grace Fisher Foundation is thrilled to launch a Sensory Room for autistic families and an immersive fun space for all,” says Jana Brody, Development and Operations Director for the Grace Fisher Foundation. “Through our partnership with Autism Embrace, we’re creating new opportunities for connection, inclusion, and joy. We’re actively seeking donors to help bring this vision to life.”
The Inclusive Arts Clubhouse, in what Brody says was previously known as the “best kept secret for arts program,” has served roughly 15,000 people with free arts programming. “We are transforming into a true community arts space and getting the word out,” she says. The space offers Music Exploration with Yellow Bird Music, Family Drum Circle, and Adaptive art activities for adults with developmental disabilities in coordination with Alpha Resource Center.
“We have new nonprofit partners Peer Buddies and Autism Embrace,” says Brody. “We've expanded programs from toddlers to seniors, including evening events with DJs, karaoke, and dance parties. The Clubhouse is opening its doors for community event rentals as we hope to engage more in fostering inclusion and creativity for all."
To learn more about the Grace Fisher Foundation or support the Inclusive Arts Clubhouse, visit gracefisherfoundation.org/donate.