Firefighters Answer The Autism Call

Firefighters Local 825 is looking to increase autism awareness in the community with the help of local nonprofit Total Joy Are You Autism Foundation (TJAY).

Members of the New Haven Fire Department (NHFD) and Local 825 donated $2,000 to TJAY on Monday.

Last October, Captain Troy Frost, Battalion Chief Miguel Rosado, Battalion Chief Danny Coughlin, and Fire Fighter Shytanya Floyd organized a T‑shirt fundraiser to fund local autism awareness efforts. The NHFD gathered at the New Haven Regional Fire Training Academy Monday to present TJAY with the donation.

The members sold T‑shirts within the department and to the community and raised $1,000. Local 825 then matched the proceeds. Frost designed the T‑shirts for the month-long fundraiser.

The department then granted approval for firefighters to wear the shirts on duty for the month of December.

TJAY was founded in 2015 by Tracey Foskey. Foskey, a social worker, has a son on the autism spectrum whom she raises in Westville.

Foskey first realized there was need in the community for autism awareness when she received a PPT notice from her son’s school on a Friday for an important meeting scheduled for the coming Tuesday. Foskey wondered why the important meeting was not scheduled with her. 

“What about the parents who don’t know their rights? What about the parents who are looked at as just being neglectful towards their children when they’re really not?” she recalled asking herself before founding the organization.

TJAY board member Valerie Tanner joined Foskey Monday at the donation handoff.

Foskey said she hopes to work with the NHFD in the near future to train firefighters to better understand and identify the disorder.

“Many kids can be misread, and if we can identify, we can help everyone equally,” said Floyd.

The proposed training would involve strategies for firefighters to use when responding to calls with autistic community members. ​“With training, it could take our education to another level, which is good for us and the community. Our bottom line is safety,” said Frost.

This past July Foskey celebrated her son’s 16th birthday but could not host a party due to the pandemic. A friend was able to arrange for the NHFD’s Westville engine to do a drive by for her son.

“He still talks about it ​‘til this day,” she said.

Rosado said his 7‑year-old son, who has autism, helped him to be more aware and understanding when on calls. Floyd also has a family member with autism and learned many of her fellow firefighters have autistic family members.

With the donation Foskey hopes to add additional virtual activities to the organization’s programs like a snack and paint event, baking workshops, and read-alouds for local youth. 

West Rock Alder Honda Smith joined the gathering in support of the efforts made by TJAY and the NHFD. ​“You’re not just fighting fires to save lives. You’re also dabbling into communities, and you’re rendering the services that are needed for all children,” Smith said. 

Foskey told the firefighters that many on the autism spectrum can get overstimulated from fire engines’ noise and lighting.

Members also gifted Foskey with a necklace made and donated during fundraising.

The NHFD is looking to allow members to wear the awareness shirts on duty for Autism Awareness Day in April.