For more than a decade, the Friends of Children with Special Needs (FCSN) has used its annual talent showcase to highlight the strengths, creativity, and spirit of its community. What began as a small gathering meant to give children and adults with special needs a place to express themselves has grown into a major yearly celebration that families look forward to… Continue reading FCSN’s 12th Annual Talent Showcase
“If I didn’t have Andrew, I wouldn’t know how to view people with disabilities in a different perspective,” said Lilian Quach, mother of FCSN-client Andrew Quach… Continue reading Twinkle Series: Interview With Lilian Quach
乍看之下，嬰兒時期的 Lawrence Wang 並沒有任何特別之處。他健康出生，安靜、沉穩、且善於觀察。然而，隨著時間過去，母親 Anna Wang 開始察覺到一些不同之處。當其他幼兒開始說話並與人互動時，Lawrence 卻始終沉默不語。 Continue reading Twinkle 系列: Lawrence’s 音樂之旅
At first glance, there was nothing unusual about Lawrence Wang as a baby. Born healthy and without complications, he was quiet, calm, and observant. But as the months passed, his mother, Anna Wang, began noticing differences. While other toddlers were beginning to speak and interact, Lawrence remained silent. By two and a half years old, he was still nonverbal. At age three, Lawrence was diagnosed with autism. Continue reading Twinkle Series: Lawrence’s Musical Journey
As the Fremont community filed into the Fremont Downtown Event Center, lively sounds of music and laughter echoed into the street. From 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on September 21,2025, , FCSN hosted the fourth annual Disability Resource Fair, which was organized in collaboration with the City of Fremont Human Relations Commission (HRC). The fair aims to raise awareness and provide resources for individuals with special needs in the form of an uplifting gathering of togetherness… Continue reading Disability Resource Fair 2025
On June 7, from 4 to 7 PM, FCSN held the annual Family Day at the Culture Center of TECO in Milpitas. The event included both a segment in which FCSN board members presented various milestones and a series of performances by members of East and South Bay recreation programs. Guests including special needs families and members of different song and dance programs enjoyed a musical opening by the South Bay Percussion Group before the announcements began… Continue reading FCSN Family Day 2025
In the first article of the Health Column Series, “The Therapeutic Power of Dance for Kids on the Spectrum,” I shared an overview of clinical studies highlighting the benefits of dance for autistic children and young adults. In this second installment, I continued the conversation by speaking with Sarah Schwartz, a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist (MS, R-DMT) through the American Dance Therapy Association’s Certification Board. We discussed how a dance therapy session works, the impact she has witnessed in children on the spectrum, and her advice for our FCSN families who want to support therapeutic goals at home… Continue reading An Interview with Sarah Schwartz, a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist (MS, R-DMT) who works with individuals on the Spectrum
From 4-6:30 p.m. on August 22nd at 42080 Osgood Road, FCSN hosted the opening night for Without Limits, a vibrant and lively art exhibit showcasing the creativity and work of artists with special needs. Featuring 243 emotionally evoking and colorful artworks and 52 accomplished artists, Without Limits celebrates the inclusion and limitless potential of individuals with special needs… Continue reading FCSN’s 4th Annual Art Exhibit
Written by: Rachel Lee, FCSN Voices Editor
Graphics by: Karen Gong, FCSN Voices Youth Reporter
The warm hum of conversation filled the air as FCSN families and visiting community members gathered in the South Bay Center auditorium, exchanging handshakes and cheerful greetings of “Happy New Year!” As FCSN staff handed out red envelopes to children with special needs, Chiling’s Band filled the room with live music, accompanied by vocalists Amy and the mother-daughter duo, Ruth and Marisa… Continue reading 2025 Lunar New Year Café Concert
Earlier last month, Dream Achiever had its first in-person performance of the year: a celebration of Lunar New Year. The pandemic put their live performances on hold for over a year, and the band had only recently resumed their in-person concerts in June 2021. Band manager and parent Anna Wang shared the experiences of the band members as they navigated online performances and the inability to interact with their audience, as well as the joy of returning to in-person performances. Continue reading Dream Achiever’s 2022 Premiere
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