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

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

Halloween Event for the Special Needs CommunityΒ 

On October 29th, the long-awaited FCSN Halloween event returned to Ardenwood Historic Farm for a second year of fun-filled festivities. Visitors, FCSN students and their families, were welcomed to participate in a variety of events, including a haunted railroad ride, pumpkin decorating, and trick-or-treating.Β  Continue reading Halloween Event for the Special Needs CommunityΒ 

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

Food and Nutrition Series #2

Friends and family told Stephanie Tom, β€œKids will get hungry and then they’ll eat what you give them.” However, that was never the case with her son. β€œHe 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

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 β€œacross 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

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

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