I was working from my home computer on Wednesday when I received a text at 11:59 am from a good friend who is parent disability activist and close to many people who work in the Regional Center system. The words were chilling: “Active shooter at Inland Regional Center. At least 12 dead.” I gasped, and turned on the news. Why would the next crazy shooter target one of California's 21 Regional Centers for the developmentally disabled? Did they know that Regional Centers help children and adults with developmental disabilities such as autism, epilepsy, cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities? Was this a case of a disguntled former employee?
As the horrible details of the mass shooting in San Bernandino emerged, we learned that the killers were aiming their AK-47s at the staff of the San Bernandino County Department of Public Health, who had rented out a conference room at the Inland Regional Center for a holiday party, and furthermore, there was no connection between the attackers and the regional center.
But, as the names and identities of the 14 killed were shared today, we learned that one of those slain was Daniel Kaufman, 42, who worked for the Coffee N More shop which was independently owned and operated, and leased space from the regional center. Daniel's job there, according to the Los Angeles Times, was to run Coffee N More at the Conference Center of the Inland Regional Center, training clients with developmentally disabilities who worked there. After the first news reports, Daniel's sister and boyfriend were frantically trying to contact Daniel, and in a hearbreaking tale chronicled in the LA Times, had first heard that he was wounded, and only after 22 hours of conflicting reports, found out he had indeed died.
Coffee N More is exactly the type of realistic on-the-job training that many young adults with developmental disabilities desire and need to succeed in paying jobs in the community. From these type of supportive training programs, adults with developmental disabilities are often able to find paying jobs in Starbucks, Coffee Bean and other similar establishments. Having a paying job is crucial for maximum independence and self-confidence. Running these programs requires a special mix of humor, compassion and caring, all attributes that those close to Daniel said he had in abundance, having working at this job for around five years.
In a TV Channel 7 interview, Daniel's partner of three years, Ryan Reyes, said he was a man who would go out of his way to help others.
“I'm not just exaggerating because he was my boyfriend, but the world will suffer from having one less person like him in it,” Reyes said. “That's what bothers me, is you know, he is a ray of light to so many people and so supportive, willing to give you his last dime and go without.”
He will be missed.
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