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FCSN Stories

New Development at FCSN Voices

Founded with the purpose of amplifying the voices of the special needs community and instilling a sense of community within FCSN’s united families, FCSN Voices has evolved from a printed newsletter in 1997 to a fully-fledged online publication carrying all the strengths of the digital age. Today, the publication features more than 250 articles, accumulating more than 40,000 views and reaching readers across 10 countries. Over the years, FCSN Voices has seen significant growth as a publication and undergone changes in leadership, format, and direction, but has always remained true to its mission of informing readers on issues important to the special needs community.  Continue reading New Development at FCSN Voices

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Clients, FCSN Stories

Serving the Seniors at Fremont Age Well Center

FCSN Gala: Client Story 1
We go to the City of Fremont Age Well Center to volunteer every Wednesday. Ms. Cathy drives us there so we can work. When we get there, the first thing we do is to wash our hands by using hand soap, dry our hands with a towel, and then we put gloves on.  Once we are done with basic hygiene, we start to work! We would pick a table to work on, then move to another one. However, we also help each other when needed.  Continue reading Serving the Seniors at Fremont Age Well Center

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FCSN Stories, Parents

Food and Nutrition Series: Anna and Lawrence’s Gluten-Free Casein-Free Journey 

Food and Nutrition Series #6
Some people suffer from food intolerances, causing their bodies to experience immense discomfort which manifests in hyperactivity or self-injurious and aggressive behaviors. Addressing these food intolerances can result in drastic improvement in one’s quality of life. For this edition of the Food and Nutrition Series, Anna shares her journey with the gluten-free and casein-free (GFCF) diet for her son Lawrence.  Continue reading Food and Nutrition Series: Anna and Lawrence’s Gluten-Free Casein-Free Journey 

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Clients, FCSN Stories, Parents

Food and Nutrition Series: Jia and Alice’s Gluten-Free Journey 

Food and Nutrition Series #5
A food intolerance is caused by one’s body not being able to digest a certain food or an ingredient in the food. For this edition of the Food and Nutrition Series, FCSN parent Jia shared the challenges her daughter Alice faced as a result of gluten intolerance and their journey together in order to manage this condition. Providing inspiration for other families dealing with a similar situation, this article presents the story of a mother’s determination to help her daughter and advice that she would share with the community.   Continue reading Food and Nutrition Series: Jia and Alice’s Gluten-Free Journey 

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Children Programs, Community, News/Events, Programs

Best Memories with Best Buddies

On January 12, MSJ Best Buddies collaborated with FCSN to host a friendship bracelet making session. The event welcomed all students on campus, and served as an opportunity for the rest of the student body to interact with peers in special needs programs. Students were satisfied with the event, where lively music played in the background as the officers worked with participants and buddies to create the bracelets.  Continue reading Best Memories with Best Buddies

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FCSN Stories, Individuals, Parents, Programs, Remote/Virtual Programs, Spotlight, Volunteers

SN Tutoring Program Spotlight: Alison Ding and Ms. Liu

SN Tutoring Program Spotlight #1
Parent Ms. Liu recently thanked Tutor Alison Ding for her sharp insight, patience, and open-mindedness while teaching. “Alison is not only willing to help special needs kids with extra patience, but she also takes the effort to adjust her way to meet the kid’s level of ability. Not all professionals in the special education field can do that, but Alison does. She quickly builds the bond with her student and keeps open communication with the parents so that both of us can work together as a team. In summary, she is a great tutor!” Continue reading SN Tutoring Program Spotlight: Alison Ding and Ms. Liu

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Children Programs, Programs

2022 Fall Science Workshops at FCSN

During the summer of 2022, Science for the Bay hosted 30-45 minute science workshops at FCSN. Starting from October 8, 2022, Science for the Bay has extended workshops at FCSN for a 10-week long fall session to meet the popular demand from FCSN coordinators and volunteers. In these workshops, students learned about science through hands-on experiments such as “The Floating Water Experiment,” “Invisible Ink with Lemon Juice,” and the latest “Dancing Candy Cane Experiment.” Continue reading 2022 Fall Science Workshops at FCSN

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Adult Programs, FCSN Stories, Parents

FCSN Plays an Integral Part of My Son’s Life

In March 2020, Bay Area counties instituted Shelter-in-Place orders due to the arrival of the COVID pandemic, and FCSN was forced to suspend in-person programs. This surely created enormous problems for the staff and volunteers who have been keeping this wonderful organization afloat under what are even in the best of times, challenging circumstances. But it also created a crisis for our son Jon and all of the clients and their families who have been relying on FCSN services. Continue reading FCSN Plays an Integral Part of My Son’s Life

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Announcements, Community, News/Events, Staff

FCSN’s Milestone- 3-Year CARF Accreditation

When FCSN’s Supported Employment Program was certified by DOR (Department of Rehabilitation) in late 2017, we were informed that we needed to receive The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) Accreditation by the 5th year. At that time, three years before, we had to start preparing for accreditation, which we didn’t think would be daunting. We just went through a certification process, so how difficult could it be? Read more on FCSN’s journey on completing their first CARF accreditation review. Continue reading FCSN’s Milestone- 3-Year CARF Accreditation

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FCSN Stories, News, Spotlight, Volunteers

2022 FCSN Scholarship Recipient: Joyce Lui

Meet Joyce Lui: a senior at Monta Vista High School located in Cupertino, California, who is incredibly passionate about the special needs community. Since 10th grade, she has been very involved in school and volunteering, finding various ways to support special needs children. From hanging out virtually over Zoom to pairing special needs individuals with a buddy at school, her journey of supporting special needs children started with FCSN. Continue reading 2022 FCSN Scholarship Recipient: Joyce Lui

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Announcements, Individuals

Q&A: How to Help Children With Overeating Habits

Food and Nutrition Series #3
FCSN Voices has recently initiated a series of interviews with Cecillia Sun, Registered Dietitian (RD), on the important topics related to nutrition for children with special needs. In this interview, Cecilia addresses parents’ concerns regarding children (aged 13 and over) who have a habit of overeating. Continue reading Q&A: How to Help Children With Overeating Habits

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Arts & Crafts, Events, FCSN Stories, News/Events, Special Interest, Volunteers

Behind the Scenes of FCSN’s Successful Art Exhibit, “Through Our Eyes”

From the opening night on September 9 to the public exhibition on September 10 and September 12-14, Friends of Children with Special Needs (FCSN) held their 1st Art Exhibit, “Through Our Eyes,” a celebration of special needs talents in the arts. FCSN has always valued the arts of their students and wanted to organize this showcase to give exposure to their artists and their art. Continue reading Behind the Scenes of FCSN’s Successful Art Exhibit, “Through Our Eyes”

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FCSN Stories, Individuals, Spotlight, Volunteers

2022 FCSN Scholarship Recipient: Erica Chiu

Written by: Jessica Hung and Crystal Chen, FCSN Voices Youth/Senior Reporter Graphics by: Barkha Trivedi, FCSN Voices Graphic Artist For UC Davis fourth-year student Erica Chiu, her commitment to FCSN knows no bounds. In her five years at FCSN, she, again and again, defined volunteering as a timeless adventure–continuing through college and into her career. Today, Chiu manages the Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) Program … Continue reading 2022 FCSN Scholarship Recipient: Erica Chiu

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Announcements, Others

Q&A: Helpful Tips for the Parents of Picky Eaters

Food and Nutrition Series #1

FCSN Voices has recently initiated a series of interviews with Cecillia Sun, Registered Dietitian (RD), on the important topics related to nutrition for children with special needs. In this interview, Cecilia provides helpful tips to parents of picky eaters (ages 2-12). Continue reading Q&A: Helpful Tips for the Parents of Picky Eaters

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FCSN Stories, Individuals, Parents, Spotlight

Beyond Picky Eaters: A Parent’s Experience with Special Needs Nutrition

Food and Nutrition Series #2

Friends and family told Stephanie Tom, “Kids will get hungry and then they’ll eat what you give them.” However, that was never the case with her son. “He could go a day without eating. Once he was diagnosed with autism, it made a whole lot of sense,” Tom said. Tom, mother to a teenage autistic son, provides insight on special needs nutrition for other parents of special needs children as well as the general public. Continue reading Beyond Picky Eaters: A Parent’s Experience with Special Needs Nutrition

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FCSN Stories, Volunteers

Disability Community & First Responder Fun Festival

On Sunday, September 25th, the City of Fremont Human Relations Commission hosted its Disability Resource Festival, a festival to connect people with the special needs community and provide them with necessary resources. In memory of Feda and Muh Almaliti, the festival aimed to educate the special needs community about interactions with police and firemen as well as the necessary safety protocols. Continue reading Disability Community & First Responder Fun Festival

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News/Events, Performing Arts, Programs

First Post-Pandemic Summer Dance Camp 2022

From June 20 to July 18, FCSN held its 2022 Summer Dance Camp at the South Bay Center in San Jose. The camp consisted of weekly Monday lessons from 3:30-4:30 PM. Instructed by student volunteers Claire Luo and Melinda Wong, this summer dance camp taught students fun dance moves, while also encouraging overall fitness and being physically active. In a typical lesson, the two instructors would first lead students in warm-ups, stretches, and “across the floor” exercises. Then, they would spend the remaining 30 minutes teaching students two dance practices. Continue reading First Post-Pandemic Summer Dance Camp 2022

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FCSN Stories, Programs, Volunteers

In-Person Workshop Make STEM Accessible to Neurodiverse Students

Written by: Claire Lin and Amanda Wu Graphics by: Olivia Koo When quarantine restrictions forced students to resort to online learning, Vikram saw first hand how challenging online learning was for his brother who has autism. He was determined to help the special needs community overcome this obstacle. Along with Deepesh, Varan, and Anit, who share his love of science and his determination to spread … Continue reading In-Person Workshop Make STEM Accessible to Neurodiverse Students

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News/Events, Summer Programs

Relaunched!: The Impact of the Return of In-Person Summer Camps

As the rise of COVID-19 brought an era of lockdown and restrictions upon the world, organizations like FCSN were forced to shut down all gatherings. Since then, enough progress has been made that in-person events have slowly begun to trickle back into daily life — an example of which is FCSN’s recent relaunch of in-person summer camps, a transition which was significant for both parents and children.  Continue reading Relaunched!: The Impact of the Return of In-Person Summer Camps

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Announcements, News/Events, Uncategorized

FCSN’s New Chapter

By Sylvia Yeh, Executive Director FCSN’s vision is to build a supportive village that enriches the lives of individuals, help them gain independence, reach full potential, find happiness and bring peace of mind to their families. However, there are more than 300 individuals on the waiting lists of FCSN vendorized programs as FCSN has reached the full capacity of our current two centers. In response … Continue reading FCSN’s New Chapter

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Announcements, Community, FCSN Stories, Individuals, News, News/Events, Spotlight, Volunteers

2022 FCSN Scholarship Program Recipients

Since the inception of FCSN in 1996, the organization has strived to improve and foster community amongst children who have special needs. FCSN encourages acceptance, improvement, and aims to create a feeling of closeness amongst those who take their time to dedicate their skills. In light of this, a scholarship was awarded for the second year in a row, the first of this kind having been given in 2021. The competition was expanded this year, and individuals who were involved in FCSN that showed a commitment to helping, promoting, and expanding opportunities for people with special needs as well as had financial needs themselves were those who were favored in the application process.  Continue reading 2022 FCSN Scholarship Program Recipients

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Adult Programs, FCSN Stories, News/Events, Spotlight, Work & Job training

Friends Coffee & Tea: Behind the Cookies

Newsletter #2
From almond crispies to snow bliss cookies, Friends Coffee & Tea’s delicious sweets have a special meaning behind them. Each week, the shop holds a cookie training group session, working with a handful of special needs adults (age 22 and above) to teach them how to make these delicacies.  Continue reading Friends Coffee & Tea: Behind the Cookies

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Announcements

The Acquisition of Osgood Property

For the last ten years or so, periodically, FCSN board would look for properties to expand our facility in East Bay. In the early years, we were interested in properties that were close to our Fremont Center (now Chenming & Margaret Hu Center). The idea was to find a 2000-3000sf office space that is physically close to the existing center. However, after multiple attempts, we … Continue reading The Acquisition of Osgood Property

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FCSN Stories

2022 Virtual Summer Camp – Sharing One Culture at a Time

By FCSN Volunteer Ashika Kuchhangi Graphics by Kaavya Saini “Sharing Culture One Story at a Time” was a newly implemented FCSN program hosted by Ashika Kuchhangi and Jackie Wong from June 18th to August 13th. This class involved reading a story about different cultures around the world, designed to encourage acceptance of those who have different backgrounds and beliefs.  Born out of Ashika’s own experiences … Continue reading 2022 Virtual Summer Camp – Sharing One Culture at a Time

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FCSN Stories, Individuals, Programs, Spotlight, Summer Programs, Volunteers

FCSN Youth Volunteer Aarav Sharma Engages Special Needs Students in Programming and Pre-Algebra

During the past couple years, Archbishop Mitty High School Sophomore Aarav Sharma taught a 12 week Scratch Language class and a week long Pre-Algebra summer camp for FCSN students with the hopes of helping special needs students pursue STEM in the future. Sharma’s previous experience with Scratch has given him the experience needed to help guide his students through the language and create an efficient curriculum for his class. Continue reading FCSN Youth Volunteer Aarav Sharma Engages Special Needs Students in Programming and Pre-Algebra

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Announcements, Events, News/Events, Programs, Summer Programs

Summer Drama Camp Returns with Disney’s “Cars”

From July 13th to July 16th, FCSN organized its yearly drama camp for special needs students: a four-day program featuring three days of full-cast rehearsals culminating in a performance on the last day. This year, campers performed a production of Disney’s Cars. Read FCSN Voices’ coverage of the event below! Continue reading Summer Drama Camp Returns with Disney’s “Cars”

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News/Events

Through Our Eyes: Friends of Children with Special Needs Holds Inaugural Art Exhibition

As per the title, Through Our Eyes, this exhibition will be an opportunity through which the FCSN artists’ work can be seen by the public, and reflexively, a way for the public to experience the world through each artist’s unique perspective. Raymond Hu, a resident community member recently celebrating 30 years as an artist, will be showcasing his series of vivid, enchanting Chinese watercolor and mixed media paintings with an animal motif. You can also expect to see pieces from over 50 other artists, created in diverse mediums ranging from acrylic painting to oil pastels, origami, ceramics, and more. The FCSN community welcomes you to attend our opening night on September 9 or to visit the work on view the following week and support the creativity and talent of our artists with special needs. Continue reading Through Our Eyes: Friends of Children with Special Needs Holds Inaugural Art Exhibition

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Children Programs, Community, Events, News/Events, Programs, Special Interest, Sports, Summer Programs, Uncategorized

How 14-Year-Old Aarav Sharma Made an Impact in Creating the FCSN Badminton Summer Camp

From June 27 to July 8, rising high school sophomore Aarav Sharma instructed a two-week badminton summer program dedicated towards introducing FCSN students to the sport. The camp was a major success, receiving plenty of positive feedback from the community. Continue reading How 14-Year-Old Aarav Sharma Made an Impact in Creating the FCSN Badminton Summer Camp

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Community, Events, News, News/Events, Special Interest, Work & Job training

Friends Coffee & Tea: Empowering the Special Needs Community

Newsletter #1

First started in April 2018, Friends Coffee & Tea is no ordinary coffee shop. In addition to offering a wide and unique array of drinks and pastries, it is a community mainly operated by special needs individuals where they can make friends and learn. In collaboration with FCSN, the larger mission of Friends Coffee & Tea is to provide workplace training for special needs individuals, who face high unemployment rates. At this shop, they have opportunities to learn shop management skills, exercise their creativity through baking, crafts, and art, and gain experience in a work environment. Continue reading Friends Coffee & Tea: Empowering the Special Needs Community

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FCSN Stories, Individuals, Spotlight, Volunteers

2022 Summer Computer Classes

Inspired by the volunteer contributions of hid older brother and father, Lynbrook High School senior James Wang began volunteering at FCSN in 2018. Since then, James has expanded the FCSN Computer Class Program to 9+ classes and 43 students. His impressive contributions led him to receive the title of FCSN’s Volunteer of the Year. Continue reading 2022 Summer Computer Classes

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FCSN Stories, Volunteers

FCSN GYVers 2022: Richard Zhang

For Mission San Jose High School senior Richard Zhang, his time at FCSN started as a passion towards aiding the special needs community. Today, he has contributed to the FCSN community with more than 1000 hours spent volunteering. He began volunteering for FCSN during his freshman year of high school, and will be studying at UC Santa Barbara in the fall. Continue reading FCSN GYVers 2022: Richard Zhang

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Community, News/Events, Programs

The 2022 Spring Carnival: Fostering a Community for Special Needs

FCSN’s Spring Carnival event took place on May 21, 2022 from 12:30 pm-4:30 pm. Unifying people experiencing similar situations and obstacles fosters a strong community of support and encouragement. Hoping to achieve that purpose, the 2022 Spring Carnival held by FCSN and Youth for Goods brought together special needs families, introducing them to helpful programs, mingle, and enjoy activities and snacks. Continue reading The 2022 Spring Carnival: Fostering a Community for Special Needs

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Community, News/Events

2022 FCSN Family Day

From 4-6 p.m. on June 4 at the Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Milpitas, FCSN hosted their annual Family Day gathering, inviting families across the Bay Area for an afternoon of entertainment, commemorations, and important announcements. Returning from two years of online Family Day meetings, this in-person gathering brimmed with joyous entertainment and community bonding. Read FCSN Voices’ coverage of the event in this article! Continue reading 2022 FCSN Family Day

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Community, News/Events

FCSN Music Time Concert

Hosted by Sufen and Chiling Wu on April 16 from 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, FCSN’s Music Time Cafe Concert at Friends Coffee and Tea was a joyful gathering of talented special needs musicians. The program featured 13 performances, with a wide variety of instruments ranging from guitar and marimba to cello and piano, as well as a sing-along dance party to close off the event. Before the adjournment, Pixar’s Turning Red voice actress Rosalie Chiang had a special guest appearance. Check out FCSN Voices’ coverage of the event below. Continue reading FCSN Music Time Concert

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FCSN Stories, Spotlight, Volunteers

FCSN GYVers 2022: Isabella He

Mission San Jose High School senior Isabella He is the founder of FCSN Clubs, co-founder and Tutor Coordinator of Special Needs (SN) Tutoring, and Advisor of FCSN’s online newsletter, FCSN Voices. These outstanding efforts led her to receive the title of 2021 FCSN Volunteer of the Year, selected from a pool of more than 1,200 volunteers as the top contributor. Read about Isabella’s contributions to FCSN in this spotlight article. Continue reading FCSN GYVers 2022: Isabella He

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FCSN Stories, Individuals, Spotlight, Uncategorized, Volunteers

FCSN GYVers 2022: Katherine He

Basis Independent Silicon Valley Senior Katherine He’s family first joined FCSN in 2022, hoping to find a supportive special needs community for her brother. Since then, Katherine has developed new interactive classes for special needs individuals such as Lego Digital Design, Find Your Voice, and Life Skills, helping participants develop computer skills, improve speech and communication, and learn about finances and current events. Continue reading FCSN GYVers 2022: Katherine He

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FCSN Stories, Spotlight, Volunteers

FCSN GYVers 2022: Kyle Ng

Irvington High School Senior Kyle Ng began his FCSN journey as a volunteer for FCSN afterschool programs. However, after noticing the lack of STEM opportunities for special needs individuals in Silicon Valley, he decided to use his own experience as a member of a For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Tech Challenge robotics team to teach his own robotics classes at FCSN. Since then, he has gone on to create Serendipity STEM, an organization whose mission is to provide STEM opportunities for underprivileged communities, including that of neurodivergent individuals.
Continue reading FCSN GYVers 2022: Kyle Ng

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