A group of 21 members from the Taiwan Painting Association Angels Visiting the United States Exchange Group recently held an art exhibition in the U.S. and paid a visit to Friends of Children with Special Needs (FCSN) in the Bay Area on April 17th. They interacted with over 200 students, creating a warm and lively atmosphere on site.
On the day of the event, the Taiwan Painting Association showcased 20 pieces of artwork at FCSN, engaging in two-way communication through singing, dancing, musical performances, and organization introductions.
The itinerary was organized by Luo Qianru, the executive director of the Timely Rain Foundation. She mentioned that the visit to FCSN was specially arranged to allow the Taiwan team to observe the operation and facility design on-site, hoping to learn from the experience for future curriculum and institutional development to enhance overall service quality.
Chairman Lin Guoxun of the Taiwan Painting Association told Dajiyuan that FCSN has a well-equipped venue and serves a large number of people, while the association currently has around forty students. He hopes that through this exchange, high-quality courses and operational methods can be introduced to strengthen Taiwan’s teaching and services.
During the event, CK Lee, co-chairman of FCSN, introduced the organization’s development process, management structure, and the California special education system, including the Lanterman Act. He shared his experience of initially struggling to access special education resources in Taiwan, eventually moving to the U.S. for development. He explained how FCSN parents shifted from helplessness to mutual assistance, getting involved in fundraising, organizing events, establishing day care, and supportive living, gradually building a comprehensive service system.
The initiator of the art exhibition, teacher Luo Jialing, mentioned that the music performances by FCSN students have reached a professional level. With sufficient teaching staff and a caring environment, they have created an open and supportive learning atmosphere where children can freely showcase their potential. She believes that Taiwan still has limitations in career and development opportunities for people with disabilities, often focusing on basic jobs like massage or gas stations. She hopes that through exchanges, more diverse training models can be introduced, breaking through existing frameworks and fostering future reciprocal visits and collaborations.
She described this trip as a learning experience, considering that FCSN is formed by parents yet has a mature system, providing crucial insights. The team will consolidate what they have learned and share it back in Taiwan with more parents and groups to promote system and organizational optimization. Participants also pointed out that to improve the situation in Taiwan, the key lies in uniting parental consensus and taking united actions to further drive government system reforms.
The Taiwan Painting Association was founded in 2012 by teachers Cai Qihai and Li Shuling. It mainly enrolls students aged 18 and above with multiple physical and mental disabilities, offering courses such as woodworking, pottery, oil painting, quilting, and baking on weekdays. This time, they brought 54 pieces of artwork to the U.S. for exchange and charity sale, organized by the Timely Rain Foundation and Flying Cow Foundation. They brought 7 students (accompanied by parents, participating at their own expense) to the U.S. for the first time to broaden their horizons and deepen exchanges.
FCSN was established in 1996 by 10 families of special needs children, currently having three centers in Fremont and San Jose, planning to expand to a fourth location. The organization provides diverse services such as day care, curriculum training, and life support, continuously developing a residential support system. With over 200 employees, more than 1,200 members, serving over 500 disabled children and adults, mainly autistic individuals, FCSN does not charge fees for students. The funding is primarily supported by the California government and was honored with the California Annual Nonprofit Organization Award in 2025.