Fremont Couple's Nonprofit Trains 3,000+ Police to Protect Autistic Community

In 2025, a Fremont couple is leading the charge to improve interactions between law enforcement and the autistic community. Kerry Rich and Mizpah Brown-Rich founded the nonprofit Joshua's Gift in 2017 to support families living with intellectual and developmental challenges.

The couple's mission took on new urgency after a troubling incident in 2023, when Brown-Rich was at a police station and her son Joshua, then 19, was nearly misinterpreted by an officer. This prompted the couple to start educating first responders on how to communicate sensitively with people on the autism spectrum.

With community support, including from the Golden State Warriors, the nonprofit has now trained over 3,000 officers, from local law enforcement to the Department of Justice. They've also teamed up with Fremont police to launch "Code Joshua," a first-of-its-kind autism emergency alert registry. Families can voluntarily provide details about their loved one's triggers and calming techniques, so officers can respond appropriately in an emergency.

The couple's long-term goal is to expand Code Joshua nationwide, with plans to add a 24-hour hotline with a behavioral analyst. They see their work as a "win-win" - giving police the tools to keep everyone safe while providing the autism community with much-needed support and protection.