Today we’d like to introduce you to Mona Nasser.
Hi Mona, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I didn’t start out with a plan to build an organization — I started as a mother navigating a world I never expected to enter. When my daughter was diagnosed with profound, nonverbal autism, our family quickly learned how fragmented and overwhelming systems of care can be, especially for families trying to do the right thing while holding onto their own sense of identity and hope.
Over time, my involvement deepened through advocacy and community leadership. I served for several years as a constituency board member and later chair with the University of Miami / Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD). Through that experience, I listened closely to families and professionals across our community and gained a clearer understanding of what was often missing — not just services, but thoughtful guidance, preparation, and emotional grounding.
As this work evolved, I made a conscious decision to further my professional training. With a background in psychology, I became a certified life coach through the University of Miami and aligned my practice with the International Coaching Federation (ICF). That education — combined with lived experience — shaped how I work with families. I believe being a good coach begins with being a skilled listener, and that integrity, boundaries, and continued learning are essential when supporting people during vulnerable life transitions.
Through CARD, I also helped create Special GALS, a group focused on connection, conversation, and individualized support for females with disabilities, and continued supporting families navigating the complexity of autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities — particularly when needs are profound and lifelong.
Creative Family Support Services grew organically from these experiences. Today, my work centers on helping families build from their strengths, organize the practical realities of care, and move forward with clarity and confidence. While the road can be challenging, especially for those living it every day, I remain deeply committed to offering support that honors both the family and the individual at the center of care.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like many meaningful paths, this journey has unfolded with complexity, growth, and a great deal of learning. One of the greatest challenges has been navigating systems that are often fragmented and reactive, especially for families caring for individuals with profound autism or lifelong intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Many families are doing their best while managing emotional stress, complex logistics, and an uncertain future, often without a clear roadmap.
Beyond the systems and structures, there is a deeply personal layer shaped by my family’s experience and what I’ve observed through meaningful connections with families and professionals in different parts of the world. When your child connects and expresses themselves in a unique way, closeness and distance can exist at the same time. I often describe it as my daughter being so close I could touch her, yet needing to learn an entirely different way of connecting with her inner world through music, sensory understanding, emotion, and patience.
Over time, through education, therapy, and deep listening, that experience transformed into clarity. I came to understand that honoring someone as an individual means letting go of who you expected them to be and fully embracing who they are. That realization reshaped not only my relationship with my daughter, but also how I support other families — with respect for individuality and the importance of truly seeing the person beyond the diagnosis.
These experiences continue to shape my work, reinforcing the belief that meaningful support begins with listening, acceptance, and creating space for each individual to be understood on their own terms.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Creative Family Support Services is a family-centered life coaching and support practice focused on helping families navigate the emotional, practical, and long-term realities of caregiving, disability, and life transitions. My work supports families caring for individuals with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), particularly when needs are complex, lifelong, or not easily addressed through traditional systems alone.
What sets my work apart is the integration of professional training and lived experience. As a certified life coach with a background in psychology, and through years of advocacy and leadership within the disability community, I approach this work with both structure and empathy. Families often come to me feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, or isolated — not because they lack love or commitment, but because the path forward can feel unclear. My role is to help them organize their thoughts, prepare for transitions, and reconnect with their own sense of identity and strength while honoring the individuality of their loved one.
I specialize in supporting families through moments of change — whether that’s navigating adulthood, shifts in caregiving roles, future planning, or simply learning how to move forward with more clarity and confidence. I also collaborate with professionals and community organizations to help bridge gaps between families and systems of care.
What I’m most proud of is creating a space where families feel seen, respected, and supported — not rushed or reduced to a diagnosis. Creative Family Support Services is built on the belief that meaningful support begins with listening, integrity, and preparation, and that families deserve guidance that honors both their responsibilities and their humanity.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can work with me in a variety of ways, depending on where they are in their journey. Families often reach out for individual or group life coaching support, especially during times of transition, uncertainty, or long-term planning. My approach is collaborative and paced — designed to meet families where they are and help them move forward with clarity and confidence.
I also welcome opportunities to collaborate with professionals, organizations, and community groups who support individuals with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Whether through workshops, group conversations, program development, or thoughtful consultation, I value partnerships that are rooted in respect, shared learning, and a genuine commitment to families.
Support can also take the form of connection — sharing resources, opening dialogue, or simply helping amplify conversations that center dignity, inclusion, and preparation. At the heart of my work is the belief that no family should feel alone, and that meaningful collaboration begins with listening and mutual understanding.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cfs-services.org
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monanasser
Image Credits
Mona Nasser
