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Discussion of an Events Plan for Disability Awareness Month in October 2026
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Meeting Date: June 10, 2026
Contact Person/Dept: Mike Odunze/PRCS
Phone Number: (310) 253-6716
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: Yes [] No [X]
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - Disability Advisory Committee (06/05/2026); (E-Mail) Parks, Recreation & Community Services Department Updates (06/05/2026)
Department Approval: Tomás Herrera-Mishler, PRCS Director (06/05/2026)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) discuss an events plan for Disability Awareness Month in October 2026.
BACKGROUND
Culver City traditionally celebrates Disability Awareness Month every October. Culver City Parks, Recreation, and Community Services (PRCS) staff plans the month’s events; and the DAC provides advice, recommendations, and hands-on assistance at events where applicable.
In past years, the DAC has voted to offer various activities such as a wheelchair basketball demonstration in partnership with the Culver City High School; and a display case at the Julian Dixon Library featuring facts and information related to Disability Awareness Month. 2025 saw the introduction of a successful movie night to the lineup of events.
The “crown jewel” of Disability Awareness Month is the annual Abilities Carnival and Resource Fair, traditionally hosted on the first Sunday of October at the Culver City Senior Center. Also known as the Abilities Carnival, the event is a chance for organizations of service to individuals with disabilities to offer information to the community. In addition to information booths, different areas of the Senior Center are set up to offer activities such as crafts, carnival games, and a quiet space. A local Girl Scout Troop volunteers at the event to run the carnival games with City Staff. During the COVID-19 pandemic, DAC and PRCS staff coordinated to shift the Abilities Carnival to a drive-through model to keep staff, volunteers, and community members safe. The event returned to being an in-person event in 2023. The past two Abilities Carnivals, in 2024 and 2025, have drawn over 300 attendees and featured live performances by Jazz Hands for Autism and Straight Up Abilities.
At the first City Council meeting in October, the DAC is invited to attend and receive a proclamation from City Council declaring October as Disability Awareness Month. During this meeting, the Council also awards commendations to an individual and an organization in recognition of their services to persons with disabilities in the community. The individual and organization commendation recipients are chosen by the DAC from nominations submitted by the community.
The DAC began preliminary discussion of ideas and plans for the 2026 Disability Awareness Month and Abilities Carnival and Resource Fair at their April 8, 2026, regular meeting. This included brainstorming of new activities and presenters for the Abilities Carnival and Resources Fair and confirming dates for some of the regularly occurring events. At that meeting, the committee agendized further discussion of the plan for the June 10, 2026, regular meeting to allow for continued with the full committee.
DISCUSSION
Staff has prepared this report as an Agenda Item to give the DAC members an opportunity to continue discussion and drafting of this year’s Disability Awareness Month events plan for the month of October 2026. A list of activities and ideas that were discussed during the April 8, 2026, regular meeting are presented below for reference:
October 2026 Disability Awareness Month Activities
• Abilities Carnival & Resource Fair - Sunday, October 4 from 12 PM to 3 PM
• Possible ideas:
o New games such as bingo, trivia, etc.
o Service dogs in training contacts
o Leaps and Bounds and Bridge OT
• Returning booth: “Ask Me About the ADA”
• Boo! On Your Doorstep
• City Council Meeting - Proclamation & Commendation
• Community Groove Dance - Friday, October 9
• Disability Awareness Month display case at Julian Dixon Library
• Movie Night - Movie TBD. Friday night in October. Exact date TBD.
• Los Angeles Hot Wheels wheelchair basketball demonstration at Culver City High School
• Possible Adaptive Skate Workshop - Date TBD
• Regular DAC Meeting - Wednesday, October 14 at 6:30 PM
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this discussion.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
MOTIONS
That the Disability Awareness Committee:
1. Draft an events plan for Disability Awareness Month in October 2026; and
2. Approve the draft of the Disability Awareness Month events plan for October 2026 as discussed, if so desired.