Written By: John Boyle, FCSN Voices Youth Reporter
Graphics By: Helen Peng, FCSN Voices Graphic Artist

Since its establishment in 1996, the Friends of Children with Special Needs (FCSN) organization has been a beacon of support for families facing challenges with children who have special needs. Among the organization’s many initiatives, family support gatherings stand out as cornerstone events, offering nurturing environments where children can engage in enriching activities while parents connect, share their experiences with their children, and find resources.

Specifically, the family support gatherings hosted in the East Bay have nearly twenty years of history. Originally located at the Chenming & Margaret Hu Center, this event is now at the new Osgood Center, continuing to serve as a vital resource for families navigating the complexities of raising children with special needs. Every year, the East Bay Family Gathering is held in the spring (February to May) and fall (September to December), with a break in the summer. Before the COVID pandemic, over a hundred participants volunteered at this event every Saturday. Now with the pandemic dying down, more participants are slowly coming back. 

Three key people organize the East Bay Family Gathering with their loving hearts. Peter Chan, FCSN vice president, manages and coordinates the East Bay Family Gathering. Shirley Chan is an in-practice speech and language pathologist. She contributed to the implementation of FCSN after-school programs and has been serving as youth volunteer coordinator for the East Bay Family Gathering since 2015. Maggie Yang is the program coordinator for the East Bay Outreach and Family Support Program. Through a series of outreach activities, Yang gets to know and help many families who have children with special needs. She brings not only her expertise but also her empathy to every activity.

In the past spring of 2024, families gathered together on Saturday afternoons between 4 and 7 PM. The families would have one meeting every two weeks. In the first two hours, while parents attend seminars, children and young adults are divided into two age groups and participate in three classes: exercise/dance, music, and art. I had the honor to lead the exercise/dance classes. For the young adult group, I put on music, and we did stretches and jumping jacks. We even challenged ourselves by doing some push-ups. Because these exercises were a bit challenging for the younger group, I would sometimes toss around a softball or demonstrate a dance move to get kids to leave their chairs and move around. After the exercises, Sarah from Valley Christian High School taught the music class with rainbow handbells that were distributed to each student. By listening to Sarah’s instructions on when to hit a specific bell, students performed simple songs, such as Baby Shark, Twinkle Little Star, Row Your Boat, Mary Had a Little Lamb, etc. Lastly, Sivani from Valley Christian High School taught students how to make art pieces using colored paper, glue, pens, and blunt kid scissors.

The East Bay Family Gathering is more than just a gathering. From the moment attendees arrive, they are greeted with warmth and understanding, creating a sense of belonging that is often elusive in everyday life. Children with special needs are welcomed with open arms and encouraged to participate in a variety of activities. From exercise and music to art classes, the event offers a diversified approach to development, fostering creativity, confidence, and social skills in participants.

While children are engaged in activities, parents have opportunities to attend seminars led by experts in special education, legal, therapy, and advocacy. Topics such as Individualized Education Plan (IEP), Individualized Program Plan (IPP), Special-Needs Trusts vs. Conservatorships, psychological therapy, and many others have been presented by experts and discussed with parents. These seminars provide invaluable information and support, equipping parents with the knowledge and resources needed to support their children effectively. A recent hot topic involves affordable and sustainable housing for adults with special needs. At a recent East Bay Family Gathering, Anna Wang shared “Dream Project II” which is worked on by an LLC formed by parents. If all goes well, this project is expected to be completed in 2027. In addition, Anna also shared different housing approaches, such as an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), a junior accessory dwelling unit (JADU), and a dwelling owned by a parent LLC. She discussed the pros and cons of the different approaches and received many questions from seminar attendees. The seminars serve as a platform for parents to share their experiences, exchange advice, and form meaningful connections with others who understand the similar challenges they face.

In an interview, organizers Peter Chan and Yang emphasized that the impact of the East Bay Family Gathering extends far beyond the activities and seminars offered. For many families, the gatherings provide much-needed respite from the isolation and stigma often associated with raising a child with special needs. Through the event, families find a sense of community and belonging, forging friendships that will endure long into the future. These connections provide emotional support, practical advice, and a shared sense of purpose, empowering families to navigate their journey with confidence and resilience. 

Things do not happen overnight; it takes time for parents with special needs children to learn about, understand, and eventually develop trust. The organizers encourage all parents to participate in the seminar series to prepare for the future. At the same time, it is crucial for children/young adults with special needs to mingle and communicate with other kids. 

Shirley Chan indicates that high school volunteers have been a big part of the East Bay Family Gathering. Especially for the junior class, 1:1 supervision has been a critical way to help kids with special needs learn about music, art, dance moves, or other subjects. After the pandemic, getting enough student volunteers has been challenging. East Bay Family Gathering organizers and coordinators would like to encourage more student volunteers. For student volunteers, once you sign up to help, please do your best to keep your commitments. 

As the East Bay Family Gathering enters its third decade, the need for its services has never been greater. With the prevalence of individuals with special needs on the rise and the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, families are facing unprecedented levels of stress and uncertainty. In response, the East Bay Family Gathering remains committed to expanding and enhancing its programs, ensuring that every family has access to the support and resources they need to thrive. As we look to the future, it is clear that the impact of this event will continue to be felt for generations to come.