Care and Connect Safety Expo brings autism community together with first responders in Fontana

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More than 600 attendees came together for the Care and Connect Fun Safety Expo, hosted by the Autism Society Inland Empire in partnership with the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District.

The event was made possible through the collaboration of community partners, including Fire Investigator and K9 Handler Shawn Riess of the San Bernardino County Office of the Fire Marshal, who worked alongside the Autism Society Inland Empire to help organize the event and create meaningful opportunities for families to connect with first responders.

For many families, the expo offered a unique opportunity to connect with firefighters, law enforcement officers and other emergency personnel in a safe, welcoming environment. Children and adults with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) were able to explore emergency vehicles, ask questions, meet first responders and participate at their own pace.

These positive interactions are especially meaningful because emergency situations can be overwhelming and challenging for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. Creating opportunities to build familiarity and trust before an emergency occurs helps individuals, families and first responders feel more prepared to communicate and respond effectively when it matters most.

“When a child has the opportunity to meet a firefighter, police officer or paramedic in a fun and welcoming environment, it helps transform an unfamiliar face into a trusted community helper. These connections can make all the difference during a moment of crisis,” said Melissa Cardona, senior resource specialist at the Autism Society Inland Empire.

Families also enjoyed sensory-friendly activities, inflatables and interactive play, with ASL and Spanish interpretation available throughout the event to help ensure the experience was accessible and inclusive for everyone.

The expo brought together a wide range of community and public safety partners, including the California Highway Patrol, Fontana Police Department, Fontana School Police Department, Ontario Police Department, Ontario Fire Department, Upland Police Department, Rialto Police Department, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department–Jurupa Station, San Bernardino Community College District Police Department, Chaffey College Police Department, U.S. Forest Service, CAL FIRE, Loma Linda Fire Department, Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District, Big Bear Fire Authority, CONFIRE, West Valley Search & Rescue, AMR (American Medical Response), and the San Bernardino County Fire Department’s Hazmat Enforcement Team and Office of the Fire Marshal.

Community and service organizations also played a key role in the event, including the Autism Society Inland Empire, Inland Regional Center, First 5 San Bernardino, Legacy Bridges, the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services and J&J Catering.

A special thank you goes to County Fire Station 71 in the city of Fontana for its support in helping make the event possible.

The event was made possible through the support of the Inland Regional Center and the California Department of Developmental Services through the Language Access and Cultural Competency Grant Program, reflecting a shared commitment to building safer, more inclusive communities. This funding helped ensure the event was accessible, culturally responsive and linguistically inclusive for the diverse individuals and families it served.

Additional County Update News – August 20, 2026