On March 25 at the Ascension Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Oakland, FCSN’s own Auntie Anna Wang received the Women’s Hall of Fame award for her work with special needs children. ​​The Women’s Hall of Fame is a platform that pays tribute to exceptional women in 13 different categories who have made remarkable strides and valuable contributions to both Alameda County and its residents. Through both this event and various other community activities, the Women’s Hall of Fame raises money to support organizations that cater to the needs of women and families in Alameda County. This year, Anna received the award for community service, making her the first person of Asian descent to win the award in the community service category.

Recently, Anna also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Alameda County Developmental Disability Council for her lifetime dedication to the special needs community. These two awards serve as a testament to Anna’s commitment and passion for improving the lives of special needs individuals.

Anna is the co-founder and vice president of FCSN. She has worked with special needs individuals for 27 years. She started her career as an electrical engineer, but when her son Lawrence was diagnosed with autism at three years old, Anna was inspired to help found FCSN with other Chinese American families. Noticing that the Asian community is usually silent about their children being born with special needs, Anna decided to try to change this mindset, providing parents and children with a platform where parents can easily communicate with the teachers and where children can thrive. 

At FCSN, Anna helped start many programs, one of which is the annual Special Needs Talent Showcase, which provides special needs children with an opportunity to spotlight their talents. Looking back at her time working with special needs individuals, Anna comments, “I have learned so much and have shared my knowledge with so many people. My life’s mission is to serve people with disabilities, especially Asian individuals with disabilities.” 

Anna believes that her greatest accomplishments are when she is able to see the special needs children thriving. “For me, what makes me most happy is when I see the children laughing and having a good time. The fact that they are able to enjoy themselves in a safe environment is really empowering and motivates me to continue my work with them.” Speaking to her award, Anna adds, “I was really happy when I received this award. This was the first time an Asian person won the award for community service, so it felt really special.” 

In the future, Anna aims to continue to work with special needs individuals, but she recognizes that she cannot continue this line of work forever. “People grow old, and I’m growing old too. This is why I’m training other parents; in the future, they will be the ones who lead the organization and help the special needs children and adults.”

To other mothers of special needs children out there, Anna has an important piece of advice. With a smile on her face, she says, “Always follow your heart and your dreams. Don’t ever give up. I think that for parents, they are educated a certain way, so they might think that having a special needs child is the end of the world. It’s really unhealthy for them to think like that. Don’t ever give up on your own children. They all have amazing qualities. They were sent to you for you to help these angels with broken wings get their wings back.”