Welcoming Our First Cohort of Seamos Autism Family Navigators

On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, we welcomed our first cohort of medical students from the California University of Science and Medicine (CUSM) for their initial training as Seamos Autism Family Navigators.

The training marks an exciting new chapter in our collaboration with the CUSM CHANGE Program and the beginning of the students’ service-learning work with Seamos Social Impact Foundation throughout the 2026–2027 academic year.

From Diagnosis to Meaningful Support

An autism diagnosis can be an important first step for a family, but knowing what to do next can often feel overwhelming. Families may leave an evaluation with recommendations, resources, and questions, but still be unsure of where to begin.

Our Autism Family Navigators are being trained to help bridge that gap.

Working alongside families, the students will help them understand evaluation recommendations, identify appropriate resources, and connect with services and sources of support that can make a meaningful difference in daily life.

During our first training, we explored the core responsibilities of a Family Navigator:

listening to families, providing clear and accessible education, helping families navigate complex systems, supporting self-advocacy, and following up to understand what happens after a referral is made.

One of the most important lessons was simple: a navigator does not need to have every answer. What matters is knowing how to listen, where to look for information, and how to remain present and supportive throughout the process.

Empathy, warmth, curiosity, and follow-through are at the heart of effective navigation.

Understanding Autism Through a Neurodiversity-Informed Lens.

We also began building a shared foundation for understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder, including its history and its characteristics as a medical and developmental diagnosis.

A central part of the conversation was recognizing that autism does not look the same in every child or individual. Characteristics, strengths, communication styles, support needs, and experiences can vary significantly from person to person.

We discussed the importance of recognizing strengths alongside areas where support may be needed, while approaching neurodiversity with respect and understanding.

Rather than asking only, “What is the diagnosis?”, we encouraged the students to consider a more practical question: What support will help this child communicate, participate, feel safe, develop independence, and work toward their goals?

This question will remain an important guiding principle throughout their work with Seamos and the families we serve.

Learning Together

By the end of the training, the students were engaged, thoughtful, and eager to begin their work. Their questions and conversations reflected a genuine interest in understanding neurodiversity and the experiences of autistic individuals and their families.

We are incredibly excited to welcome this first cohort to Seamos and to introduce them to the principles of neurodiversity-informed care, family navigation, and collaborative support.

Just as importantly, we look forward to learning from them.

Through this partnership, we hope to help develop future healthcare professionals who understand that meaningful care extends beyond diagnosis. It means helping individuals and families understand their options, access the right resources, build confidence, and find pathways that support their goals.

Together, we are working toward a healthcare system that is more informed, accessible, collaborative, and compassionate.