What to Know About the Center Where the San Bernardino Shooting Occurred
The San Bernardino, Calif. center that was the scene of a deadly shooting on Wednesday has long been a source of help for developmentally disabled people, providing services to thousands of clients. Inland Regional Center serves about 30,000 developmentally disabled people, including children, each year, according to Nancy Lungren, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Developmental Services, which runs the facility. About 640 employees work out of the building in San Bernardino, she told TIME. As more than 100 police officers flooded the scene of the shooting on Wednesday, workers locked themselves in their offices to stay safe until police told them it was safe to leave. The attack came on the heels of Inland Regional Center's holiday party on Tuesday. The center had tweeted video and photos of the festive event, , According to the enter's Facebook page, staff members provide services to people living in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, from babies to senior citizens. "Inland Regional Center coordinates with generic services to normalize the lives of people with developmental disabilities and their families by working to include them in the everyday routines and life rhythms of the community and by facilitating needed supports for them," the organization says. The center opened in 1971. According to the organization's website, it was holding a Holiday Boutique on Wednesday morning and afternoon, and had plans to host a Winter Dance on Friday.