Seahorse Institute

At Seahorse Institute, we believe that every child deserves access to quality ABA services — no matter where they live 💙

Through our online ABA support and supervision services, we are able to work with families both locally and throughout the Family Islands who may not otherwise have access to specialized intervention and clinical oversight.

The image shared highlights one of our virtual supervision sessions, where a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) reviews data and provides guidance and support to a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). Ongoing supervision is not optional in ABA — it is an essential part of providing ethical, effective, and high-quality services.

RBTs must work under the supervision of a qualified BCBA to ensure that programs are individualized, evidence-based, and properly implemented.

Access to services remains a major challenge for many families, especially in areas where specialized providers are limited. Technology allows us to help bridge that gap and support children and families who need care, guidance, and consistency.

We are proud to continue expanding access and supporting families wherever they are.

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We closed out Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month at Seahorse Institute in the best way possible—together 💙

Our celebration began with a meaningful Q&A session where parents had the opportunity to connect with our Board Certified Behavior Analysts, ask questions, and have open conversations about their child’s progress and care. These moments of connection and understanding are so important to the work we do.

From there, the day shifted into a fun-filled Sports Day, with lots of energy, laughter, and participation from both children and parents. We wrapped it all up with a shared luncheon, giving everyone time to relax, connect, and enjoy being part of a supportive community.

What made the day truly special was seeing families, staff, and children all engaged together.

Autism acceptance is not just something we talk about—it’s something we build through shared experiences, inclusion, and community.

📸 All photos shared are used with full parent consent.

Thank you to all the parents who joined us and helped make this such a memorable closing to the month.

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At Seahorse Institute, we’ve been celebrating in ways that matter most—through connection, joy, and meaningful experiences for our children.

This month, our students had an amazing time with two special activities:

🍪 Cookie Decorating – A fun and creative activity that encouraged choice-making, communication, and lots of smiles (and sprinkles!)

💦 Splashdown Water Sensory Play – A refreshing and engaging experience that supported sensory exploration, social interaction, and pure joy in the moment.

These moments are more than just fun—they are opportunities for learning, expression, and building confidence in a supportive environment.

Autism acceptance is about creating spaces where every child can participate, explore, and thrive in their own unique way—and we’re proud to do that every day at Seahorse Institute.

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At the heart of Seahorse Institute is a level of experience, dedication, and expertise that is truly rare 💙

Dr. Michelle Major’s journey in the field of autism began over 30 years ago — not in an office, but on the front lines. Early in her career, she worked as both a Behavior Technician and a preschool teacher in an inclusion classroom under the mentorship of Vincent Carbone. This hands-on foundation shaped a career grounded in real-world understanding, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to helping children find their voice.

Over the years, Dr. Major trained under and worked alongside some of the most respected leaders in the field. Her early work with Vincent Carbone helped shape her expertise in verbal behavior, and years later, he served as an advisor in the development of Seahorse Institute — a reflection of the respect she has earned in the field.
Her training also includes work with renowned speech-language pathologist Barbera Esch, strengthening her focus on language development, as well as direct learning from James Partington, the creator of the ABLLS-R curriculum, one of the most widely used assessment tools in autism education.

Before founding Seahorse Institute, Dr. Major served as an Assistant Professor of Psychology and worked at the Dan Marino Foundation Center, further deepening her expertise in autism intervention, research, and training.

Dr. Major’s impact extends far beyond one location. She has served as an international expert across countries including Dubai, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the United States — training teams, supervising programs, and designing interventions that have transformed outcomes for children across diverse cultural contexts. She has also served as an international expert consultant with Harvard Medical School at Massachusetts General Hospital, further reflecting the global recognition of her expertise.

In addition, she has contributed to research in autism program efficacy and served as a state representative in Florida with Florida Association of School Psychologists, advocating for stronger systems of support.

What truly sets Dr. Major apart is her unique and powerful combination of credentials. As a licensed psychologist, she is qualified to assess and diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder, and as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, she designs and oversees evidence-based intervention. This combination is exceptionally rare — and provides an unprecedented level of insight, continuity, and quality in supporting children on the spectrum.

In 2010, she brought all of this experience home to create Seahorse Institute.

What makes Seahorse Institute special is not just what we do — it’s the depth of knowledge, integrity, and lived experience behind it. Every program, every strategy, and every success story is rooted in decades of learning, collaboration, and a relentless focus on helping children build meaningful communication.

The results speak for themselves. Children who come to Seahorse are not just learning skills — they are developing language, independence, and the ability to connect with the world around them in powerful ways.
We are proud to be built on a foundation that is truly unmatched.

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Investing in our team is investing in the children and families we serve 💙

Today at Seahorse Institute, our Behavior Technicians participated in hands-on training led by our Board Certified Behavior Analysts, Dr. Michelle Major and Ms. Mikiko Candela. These sessions focused on strengthening practical skills, deepening understanding of applied behavior analysis, and ensuring consistency in how we support each child.

Ongoing training is essential in ABA. It helps our team stay aligned with best practices, respond more effectively to each child’s unique needs, and deliver services with care, precision, and integrity. When our Behavior Technicians are confident and well-supported, it directly impacts the quality of intervention our children receive.

For children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, high-quality ABA services can mean stronger communication, greater independence, and more meaningful engagement with the world around them.

We are proud of our team’s commitment to learning, growing, and showing up every day ready to make a difference.

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We’re celebrating Autism Awareness Month with a little extra sweetness and a lot of joy 💙🍩🥚

This week at Seahorse Institute, our students and families came together for a fun-filled day of activities designed to celebrate connection, creativity, and inclusion. From decorating delicious donuts to an exciting egg scavenger hunt around our campus, the smiles said it all.

A very special thank you to Dunkin' for donating donuts and for your continued support of our community. Your generosity helped make the day even more meaningful (and tasty!).

Moments like these remind us that awareness grows through shared experiences, laughter, and community support.

Thank you to everyone who joined us
— and stay tuned as we continue celebrating Autism Awareness Month with more activities ahead.

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April is Autism Awareness Month 💙

At Seahorse Institute, this month is about more than awareness. It’s about understanding, acceptance, and celebrating the unique strengths of every individual on the autism spectrum.

Autism is not one story. It is many stories — different ways of thinking, communicating, and experiencing the world. When we take the time to listen, learn, and support, we create spaces where individuals and families can truly thrive.

Throughout April, we’ll be hosting a series of events, activities, and conversations designed to bring our community together, share knowledge, and build greater inclusion.

We invite our families to join us.

👉 Check out our full list of Autism Awareness Month events below and find a way to get involved.

Let’s move from awareness to action — together.

We celebrate a wonderful act of generosity and community partnership.

Seahorse Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children with disabilities, has received a generous donation of a playground set from Titan Hospitality Group.

For the children and families at Seahorse Institute, this playground will be far more than just equipment. It will be a place for laughter, exploration, therapy through play, and meaningful social connection. Inclusive play spaces help children of all abilities build confidence, strengthen motor skills, and experience the simple joy of being a child.

We are deeply grateful to Titan Hospitality for recognizing the importance of creating spaces where every child can play, learn, and thrive.

Acts of kindness like this remind us what community truly means.

Thank you, Titan Hospitality, for helping to make Seahorse Institute an even brighter place for the incredible children they serve.