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When Kaili Liau's son was diagnosed with autism, she was determined to not isolate him from his peers. But forced to place him in special education classes, she looked for alternate ways to expose him to the rest of society. That was when she discovered Friends of Children with Special Needs, a nonprofit organization in the Bay Area that provides support and programs to over 300 families and individuals with autism, downs syndrome or cerebral palsy.
Starting this month, the organization will host integrated playgroups in Los Gatos, Saratoga, Cupertino and West San Jose, where children through age 5 with special needs can interact with kids without disabilities. The playgroups, limited to 12 kids per session, meet the first and third weekend of each month for two hours at a time. The program is open to all families residing in the area, and the $10 fee per family can be waived if there is financial hardship.
"Children with special needs still need to be in the community," said program director Moon Chia.
With post-graduate degrees in early childhood education/intervention and psychology and with experience working with preschool-aged children with special needs, Chia was brought in to oversee the program and a staff of instructors all credentialed to work with special needs children. According to Chia, the playgroups have a ratio of one teacher to every three children.
Activities in the playgroups range from creative dance, music and movement to collaborative games—all with an eye towards encouraging socialization. Not only does participation in the playgroups allow kids with special needs to learn social norms from their peers, but non-disabled children also become aware of diversity and overcome their fears of people different from themselves, Chia said.
"When we expose them earlier, it becomes second nature to them," Chia said, adding that the program teaches children without special needs to be patient with others.
Shiow-Luan Chen's son and daughter are non-disabled, but they've attended the playgroups the past two years, where Chen hopes they learn the lesson of altruism.
"The first time, they didn't like it because they didn't know how to play with the kids, but gradually they learned the skills to help other kids," she said.
For Liau, signing her son up for the playgroup provides an opportunity for him to apply the skills he's learned at his school and to observe other children. Because her son did not start to talk until after turning 4, having him play with kids with regular motor skills helps further his own development, she said.
"I'd like him to be in that environment rather than just special education class," she said.
FCSN volunteer Linmei Chiao agrees it is important for children with special needs to be exposed to the rest of society at a young age.
"If they don't have proper stimulation, and they're already slow in learning, it's going to get worse," said Chiao, who retired as a special education teacher and whose 19-year-old son has special needs.
Along with activities for the children, FCSN offers monthly workshops to parents on topics such as stress management, preparing their children for public school, integration with the community, physical therapy and language development.
Another goal of FCSN is for parents who attend the playgroups to learn how to host similar groups in their own homes outside of those staffed by professionals.
The playgroups are held at the Los Gatos Recreation Center, Saratoga YMCA, Cupertino YMCA and Lynbrook High School in San Jose. For more information about location, dates and time of the playgroups, visit http://www.fcsn1996.org. To enroll in the program, call Liau at 408.446.2530.
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