Friends of Children with Special Needs: Building a Dream Community

by James Chiao

Overview

"Friends of Children with Special Needs" is a compilation of narratives, speeches, reports, articles, and other firsthand accounts that tells the history, work, and current activities of Friends of Children With Special Needs (FCSN). FCSN is a ground-breaking organization run by many dedicated workers and volunteers who hope to fill the emotional, physical, social, and any other needs of families who have children with special needs. These special needs can run the gamut of topics, the spectrum of severity, and different ages, abilities, and longevity. By putting forward these firsthand accounts from presidents (past and present), volunteers, workers, and families, the work of FCSN is brought to life on the page for readers to not only understand the immensity of the project, but its importance, and most gratifying, its successes. Well-written, engaging, and compelling, this book grasps the reader's interest immediately, and is organized in such a way that the flow of the narratives is smooth and understandable. A reader immediately feels a connection to all the writers as well as those individuals they hope to help.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781667804989
Publisher:	BookBaby
Publication date:	12/06/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	316
File size:	19 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

James Chiao is an Electrical Engineer by profession. He received a BSEE from University of Washington and a MSEE from CWRU. He had spent 35 years working in various high-tech companies in Silicon Valley. Since retirement in 2015, Jim has been staying active by gardening, playing tennis, writing, and taking care of grandkids. He and his wife Linmei live in the Bay Area.

Jim is also interested in Chinese American history, and is a member of CHCP's advisory board. In the early 1970s, he worked three summers in Alaska salmon canneries. It was only recently that he found out that the salmon canneries were dominated by Chinese workers from the 1870s till early 20th century. Since 2017, He and his brother have been working on a project to preserve this part of Chinese American history through their website, talks, and seminars.

He has been active in the non-profit organization Friends of Children with Special Needs (FCSN), which he and his wife co-founded with others in 1996, and has served as its president/Co-president for 5 years and board member since 1998. He is currently serving his second term as Co-chairman of FCSN.

Table of Contents

Foreword 1

Preface 5

Chapter 1 The Early Years (1996-2000) 11

From the Founders Desk 13

We Have So Much to be Thankful For! 18

President's Message 1999 23

From Presidents Desk 29

How FCSN Got Its Name 32

Chapter 2 The Dream Project (2001-2006) 35

Dream Project 37

Presidents Remark 2002 44

FCSN's First Fundraising Gala, and My First Too 46

President's Message 2002 54

President's Message 2003 56

Our Dream Will Come True 61

Laying the Foundation for our Dream Community 64

History in the Making 68

Adult Day Program 71

Building a Dream Community 75

FCSN: Past, Present, and Future 78

Grand Opening of FCSN Dream Center 81

Care to Share 85

Chapter 3 Build Our Dream (2007-2013) 91

The Dream Project Has Begun 93

FCSN's Outlook in 2008 97

Simplicity and Childlike Hearts 100

Unique FCSN Support Living Services 104

Parents are Miracle Workers 105

Expanding Our Dream to South Bay Center 109

FCSN's Progress and Development 114

Disability Capitol Action Day 120

Advocacy - Our Children's Lives Depend On It! 123

Empower Our Youth with WEP 125

Life Skill Training Classes 130

Yay! FCSN has a New Home in South Bay 133

In-Home Respite Services 135

Chapter 4 Spread Our Dream (2014-2016) 137

A Time to Reflect & Look Forward 138

Dream Project 2 143

Introduction of FCSN Vendorized Programs 146

Dream Achievers Sends Message of Hope 151

Supported Living Services 153

Special Needs Got Talent 2015 157

Building FCSN's South Bay Center 161

FCSN Staff Appreciation Event 166

2015 Special Needs Got Talent Show 168

Looking Back and Looking Forward 173

Wake-up Call: Advocacy Needed Now 175

Drama Camp: Who Wants to Be a Star 178

An Interview with FCSN's Executive Business Director 180

Creating a Brighter Future 185

Weaving Our Dream 188

A Trip You Don't Want to Miss 192

Coming Soon! Grand Opening 194

Chapter 5 FCSN 20th Anniversary 197

FCSN from Cradle to Adulthood 198

20th Anniversary and Transformation of FCSN 205

FCSN and I: Lives changed 208

How FCSN Has Changed My Life 213

Finding FCSN's Pioneering Spirit Today 216

Chapter 6 Fulfill Our Dream (2017-2019) 219

Two Years in the Making, Decades in Families' Hearts 220

FCSN South Bay Percussion Group 224

Harvest Academy Program Opens in South Bay 230

FCSN Family Fun Festival 235

After School Program Keeps FCSN Clients Active 238

Friends Coffee & Tea Wins Innovation Award 241

Friends Coffee & Tea 244

Living More Independently with FCSN Services 248

A Trailblazer for Special Needs: Sally Wu 250

SEP & TDS: Roadmap to Employment 257

FCSN Overcomes Challenges for Clients to Take College Courses 259

Fully Integrating into Local Communities 262

President's Message 2019 265

Chapter 7 The Pandemic Years (2020-2021) 267

Presidents Message 2020 269

FCSN Remote Services 272

Bringing Friends of Children to the Virtual World 274

FCSN's Virtual Learning Programs 277

FCSN Clubs 280

FCSN Kids and Young Adults Find Their Voices in Toast-masters 283

FCSN Voices 287

Presidents Message 290

FCSN Shines at DDS Symposium 292

SNTutoring 295

The Making of the Music Video for FCSN 25th Anniversary 300