[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 158 (Wednesday, October 28, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING FRIENDS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 28, 2009

  Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Friends of 
Children With Special Needs (FCSN), a nonprofit organization dedicated 
to providing support, friendship, and life skills training to 
developmentally disabled individuals and their families. Formed in 
1996, FCSN is based in Fremont, California.
  FCSN offers special needs children an accepting, educational, and fun 
environment. The organization provides resources and information for 
families with special needs children and advocates for full-inclusion 
educational systems that allow special needs children to interact with 
their peers. FCSN also educates family members, friends, and students 
to promote better understanding of developmental disabilities.
  The organization assists thousands of special needs individuals each 
year. In 2006, FCSN opened the Dream Center in Fremont, California, 
which now serves over 250 children and adults with autism, Down's 
syndrome, and cerebral palsy. In May 2008, FCSN began offering programs 
in San Jose to support the South Bay community. There are plans to 
transform the South Bay Center into another fully operative Dream 
Center in 2010. These centers allow FCSN to provide additional 
services, such as job training, therapeutic modalities and day 
programs.
  FCSN's mission is to ``help children with special needs and their 
families find hope, love, respect, and support through integrated 
community involvement.'' I applaud everyone who has come together to 
support the continuing success of Friends of Children With Special 
Needs as they strive to meet these goals.

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