Category: Sharing By

Clients, Parents, Sharing By, Special Interest

College of Adaptive Arts Empowers Different Minds

“I realized, in a lot of ways, my sister was more intelligent than me,” DeAnna Purcell, co-founder of the College of Adaptive Arts recalls about her sister. “She never had her full abilities cultivated, honed, or supported properly.” DeAnna’s sister, Angel, was born with Down syndrome, a disorder of the body’s chromosome 21. Throughout her life, all her education has been through the public education system, a system that often isn’t able to fully support students with disabilities and thus, quickly becomes stressful for them. When Angel aged out of secondary school, she had no place that could allow her to continue her education while also providing her with the support she needed. Angel was DeAnna’s motivation for co-founding College of Adaptive Arts, the first lifelong learning model for adults with disabilities, in 2009. Continue reading College of Adaptive Arts Empowers Different Minds

Unknown's avatarfcsnvoices1 Comment
Programs, Sharing By, Special Interest

FCSN BSA Troop 3468

“Scouting is about building a young man or woman to become leaders, to become self-sufficient, and to expand the values of scouting, which is to help others,” Troop 3468 Scoutmaster David Ma said. Established in the summer of 2022, Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Troop 3468 strives to nurture these qualities of scouting in the special needs community at FCSN. Through semimonthly troop meetings and monthly outdoor events and camp outs, Troop 3468 not only develops individual character and skills, but also helps every member see and become part of a greater scouting community.  Continue reading FCSN BSA Troop 3468

Unknown's avatarfcsnvoices1 Comment
Announcements, News, News/Events, Sharing By, Special Interest

Celebrating Trailblazers: Anna Wang’s Journey to the Women’s Hall of Fame

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. 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. Continue reading Celebrating Trailblazers: Anna Wang’s Journey to the Women’s Hall of Fame

Unknown's avatarfcsnvoicesLeave a comment
News/Events, Sharing By

Introducing FCSN Parents Committee

As Chair of the FCSN Parents Committee, Wei Li has been involved with the committee since its establishment in August 2022. Throughout its activity, the committee gathered some existing groups and approximately 100 members to form five special interest groups (SIG) dedicated towards business, housing, scouting, and supporting severe autism families. Continue reading Introducing FCSN Parents Committee

Unknown's avatarfcsnvoices2 Comments
Clients, Parents, Sharing By, Special Interest, Work & Job Training

Supporting Branden Through the Self Determination Program (SDP)

Two years ago, the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) introduced the Self-Determination Program (SDP) through Person-Centered Planning at an open house. Susan and Yong were quick to sign up for the pilot program, as their son Branden was in the last year of the Young Adult Program at the time. Although Branden was able to keep up with his academic workload, his autism manifested as extreme shyness that prevented him from communicating with others. Susan realized that if Branden were to graduate and enter the real world, he would struggle to survive on his own. In light of this urgent situation, Susan and Yong saw that the Person Centered approach of the new SDP could help Branden achieve independence and become an active member of the community. Continue reading Supporting Branden Through the Self Determination Program (SDP)

Unknown's avatarfcsnvoicesLeave a comment
Children Programs, Sharing By, Sports, Volunteers

Sairisheeth’s Journey in Creating FCSN Tennis Camp

“When I first found out about FCSN, I wanted to bring something I was passionate about to this special community,” FCSN Tennis Program Founder Sairisheeth Venkat said. Sairisheeth learned about FCSN when he was searching for volunteer opportunities online and was fascinated by the close-knit community and numerous opportunities offered by the organization to help special needs individuals.  Continue reading Sairisheeth’s Journey in Creating FCSN Tennis Camp

Unknown's avatarfcsnvoicesLeave a comment
Sharing By

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

Unknown's avatarfcsnvoicesLeave a comment
Clients, Sharing By

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

Unknown's avatarfcsnvoicesLeave a comment
Parents, Sharing By

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 

Unknown's avatarfcsnvoicesLeave a comment