Category: Parents

News/Events, Parents, Sharing By, Special Interest

Interview with Dr. Lucy Qiao: Establishing Healthy Eating Habits

Food and Nutrition Series #7
FCSN Voices has initiated a series of interviews with Dr. Lucy Qiao on topics related to food and nutrition for individuals with special needs. In this interview, Dr. Qiao discusses her personal journey as a mother of a child with autism. She shares her insight on the importance of nutrition, as well as her experiences with establishing healthy eating habits and providing a balanced diet for her child. She also offers valuable advice and strategies for other parents facing similar challenges. Continue reading Interview with Dr. Lucy Qiao: Establishing Healthy Eating Habits

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Parents, Sharing By, Special Interest

Parent Sharing on Housing Topic

Special needs adults are often challenged with the difficulty of finding affordable and sustainable housing. According to the Center for American Progress, nearly 25 percent of more than 580,000 homeless people on any given night in the United States have a disability. FCSN members Alice Liu and Edmend Lin, along with other parents, tried two different approaches – an accessory dwelling unit and a dwelling owned by a parent LLC (limited liability company) – to address this issue for their beloved ones. Continue reading Parent Sharing on Housing Topic

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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

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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)

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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 

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Clients, Parents, Sharing By

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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Parents, Programs, Remote/Virtual Programs, Sharing By, 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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Adult Programs, Parents, Sharing By

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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Parents, Sharing By

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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