1990s In the early 1990s, support services for individuals with
autism were scarce in the
Silicon Valley. As a result, both Albert and Anna Wang were struggling to "deal with their [recently-diagnosed,] autistic son's behavior and communication challenges". According to Wang, Chinese and Chinese-Americans "placed great importance on being accomplished both in academic and career spheres" and indirectly see families of children with special needs as "fail[ure] to meet such criteria". In addition, Wang also remarked about parents feeling "depleted and isolated" due to the demanding work required to take care of their children, The Dream Center was FCSN's first permanent headquarters located in the Parkmont neighborhood of Fremont, California. News outlets, like
The Mercury News, referred to this building as the "only Chinese-centric, autistic-focused center". In 2000, FCSN started the planning and construction process. The 6,000 square-foot center would have "six classrooms, a resource library, a kitchen and a multipurpose room" that would offer the families' children "day programs, job training, and therapy classes and seminars for parents". In addition, the parcel would also include a "1,400-square-foot, two-story building with 10 four-bedroom apartments" to have
care providers to help their clients and to allow their clients to live somewhat independently. In October 2006, FCSN held its
grand opening. In May 2004, FCSN along with several dozen parents rallied in front of the
California State Capitol to protest
California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget cuts on funding for families to pay for the "medical needs of children who are disabled". In 2008, the organization expanded its operations in Santa Clara County by offering programs in the county's various cities such as
Cupertino,
Milpitas,
Palo Alto,
Saratoga, and
San Jose because a significant amount of their clients reside there. In April 2017, FCSN held its grand opening for its 8,000 square-foot center located south of San Jose's
Fruitdale neighborhood. In 2018, FCSN opened up a "
Coffeehouse-
Teahouse hybrid" restaurant next to its San Jose headquarters called "Friends Coffee and Tea" to gives its clients a "self-esteem [boost] through work skill training, "to increase community awareness of people with special needs", and act as a training group "for employment at other cafes".
2020s In Spring 2021, FCSN initiated its plans to move their headquarters to Fremont's
Irvington community due to the "high demand for office and program spaces". In September 2022, FCSN held their first
art exhibition at its new headquarters called "Through Our Eyes" to "provide the public with the unique perspectives and ways of experience the world" from the client's point of view. The combined 18,000-square foot parcels would enable the organization to "expand its range of services". FCSN held its grand opening ceremony and art exhibition on its renovated headquarters in August 2024. In June 2025, FCSN was nominated, by California State Senator
Aisha Wahab, for California Association of Nonprofits' "Nonprofit of the Year" award. == Membership and Personnel ==