Latest news with #Joshua'sGift
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Yahoo
Fremont police first to adopt emergency system for autistic residents
(KRON) — The Fremont Police Department announced Monday that it is the first agency to implement an emergency alert system to try and better help people with autism or developmental disabilities. Code Joshua, authorities said, will help first responders in emergency situations 'recognize, respond to, and safely approach individuals on the autism spectrum.' The alert system was the creation of the nonprofit foundation Joshua's Gift. According to the foundation, Code Joshua 'allows families to voluntarily submit detailed information about their loved ones' specific behaviors, characteristics, and needs.' Fremont teen honors Marines 80 years after Battle of Iwo Jima There are 175 families in Fremont that are expected to voluntarily enroll, Joshua's Gift said. Fremont dispatchers who receive a call regarding an individual exhibiting autism or intellectual developmental disability-related behavior can access the new database to retrieve the person's profile. Cofounders of Joshua's Gift, Kerry Rich and Mizpah Brown-Rich, said that as parents of an autistic child, they have 'personally experienced the fear and anxiety that comes with these situations.' 'Through personalized insights, training, and this new alert system, our secure, confidential platform empowers first responders to interact in ways that prioritize dignity, respect, and safety for everyone involved,' the cofounders continued. Fremont police said voluntary registration can be completed on the Joshua's Gift website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
03-04-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
California auto racing prodigy uses car to help kids with autism
Cameron Carraway goes from zero to 60 in the blink of an eye. He doesn't flinch, doesn't hesitate, and he doesn't have a license yet. While he is 14 years old, Carraway is old enough to leave grownups in his rearview mirror. "The fastest I've ever gone was115 miles an hour, but I know I can go even faster," he told CBS News Bay Area. While his friends are still riding shotgun, Carraway's busy test-driving his future — on a track in Stockton. Carraway was six when he started and never took his foot off the gas, racing in over 200 competitions and becoming California's first Black state champ -- all before he could drive to the DMV. His coach, Eric Nascimento, said Carraway has what it takes to make it all the way to top, if he can find the funding to get him there. "You still need that sponsorship — that core foundation that's going to back you your whole career," Nascimento said. Which is why what Carraway did next was so unusual. Instead of selling his prime real estate on the hood of his car to the highest bidder he gave it away. Mizpah Rich is the co-founder of Joshua's Gift , a nonprofit named after her son that supports families living with autism. Even though Carraway isn't on the spectrum, Rich said he is inspiring neurodivergent children to believe in themselves. "He's an incredible role model," Rich told CBS News Bay. "We have other kids now [saying}, 'I want to be a racer driver' because they see him." Carraway's parents, Ray and April, say watching him race can be nerve racking, but the track has taught him something far more important than speed. "You give to give, so we try to instill that in him as parents," Ray Carraway said.
