Local Organizations Embrace Color and Fun

Inland Regional Center of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties (IRC) organized and participated in colorful events – honoring those with developmental disabilities by wearing the official colors of Down Syndrome, Epilepsy and Autism during the months of March and April. IRC’s celebration culminated at the Inland Empire 66er’s annual Disabilities Awareness Night. The organization’s colorful display was all part of IRC’s mission to engage its community and build awareness and inclusion for those with developmental disabilities. This year, IRC employees throughout the Inland Empire participated by donning colorful clothing from head to toe. “Life isn’t always written in black and white. Sometimes, we face challenges and make an effort to find ‘colorful solutions’ to find happiness each day,” said Inland Regional Center Director, Carol Fitzgibbons. “At Inland Regional Center, we help our consumers do just that by celebrating their differences and unique abilities. In the end, at IRC we believe it’s our differences that make the world a more vibrant place.” The center’s month-long awareness celebration culminated at the 66ers San Manuel Stadium where IRC painted the town red, sporting the California League Champions team colors for Disabilities Awareness Night on April 12. The evening was an inspirational event held in honor of the globally recognized World Autism Awareness Month. Six of IRC’s Board of Trustees members were honored during the game for their dedication to developmental disabilities with their names announced and displayed on the 66ers Jumbotron video board. IRC was just one of many organizations for people with developmental disabilities that participated in this event. Attendees had the chance to play with Bernie and the team’s athletes in a pre-game clinic before the first pitch, making it an annual family-favorite event for IRC consumers and staff. Inland Regional Center (IRC) is one of 21 Regional Centers in California serving adults and children with developmental disabilities such as with cerebral palsy, down syndrome, intellectual disability, epilepsy or autism. IRC is the primary provider of services for more than 28,000 developmentally disabled adults and children in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.