Aline Atallah is a Lead therapist at MRC-NECC with over 4 years of experience working with children and families impacted by Autism. Aline holds a Master’s Degree in Abnormal and Clinical Psychology and is currently completing board requirements to become a BCBA. Realizing the impact families can have on the development of their child, Aline plays an active role in training families to implement ABA principles accurately and effectively in the home setting.
The Applied and Behavioral Training Institute (ABTi) works in UAE to build capacity by providing education for those who work or care for persons with developmental disabilities. They also implement early behavioral intervention & inclusion programs based on evidence based tools and practices, that provide a culture of understanding, education and empowerment for learners, educators and caregivers.
Dr. Binu George is a Consultant General Paediatric and Neurodisability Paediatrician at King’s College Hospital London. He currently runs his child developmental paediatric clinics and is continuing his research activities in autism locally. His fields of interest are Autism awareness and diagnostics.
Diana Wardeh is the Director of the Teddy Bear American Nursery in Abu Dhabi. She has 16 years of experience in education leadership and management in a variety of contexts in the UAE. Her specialty is in Early Years Education Management, and focuses in Inclusion and Early Intervention in Early Years Settings.
Eleni Kotta is a certified member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT). She specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of a variety of communication disorders, and has worked closely with individuals and their families, as well with other professionals, to facilitate effective communication skill development and implementation at home and at nursery/school.
Dr. Emad Farrag is a UK trained senior consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist who has recently relocated from the renowned Maudsley Hospital, London, to join the child & adolescent mental health team at Maudsley Health, Abu Dhabi. He is a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, UK. His diagnostic specializations include neurodevelopmental disorders, depression, anxiety, and OCD.
Goals UAE is a volunteer-based community initiative, which provides a variety of supportive recreational programs for individuals with autism. Founded in 2014 by Khawla Barley, Goals UAE programs have reached hundreds of families in Abu Dhabi and serves as an official partner of Special Olympics World Games. Through such community collaborations, Goals UAE works to establish sustainable community programs providing opportunities for individuals with autism, developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Dr. Huda Sadek, Consultant Pediatrician, Kids Heart Medical Center. Dr Huda established a neurodevelopment clinic for children with development difficulties and possible disorders and for assessment, and was responsible for Mafraq and SKMC neurodevelopment residency rotation. She moved to UAE in 2014 to work in Mafraq Hospital until very recently where she moved to Kids Hearts Medical Center.
Jennifer Bradley graduated from A.T. University with a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy. She is currently the Program Specialist for the Adaptive Physical Education and Occupational Therapy Departments at MRC-NECC. Jennifer has experience working with pediatric, adult and geriatric populations in a variety of settings and diagnoses. She is passionate about helping individuals live their life to the fullest and community inclusion for all individuals.
Kalyani Saha has a Master’s degree in Education and a professional degree in teaching from Calcutta University, India. Her teaching career spanned 16 years in Abu Dhabi in Indian and British curriculum schools. She completed her coursework for the Board Certification in working with children on the spectrum from 2014. She was introduced to ASD when her son was diagnosed in 2002, and with her husband and behavior analysts has worked relentlessly to help him succeed.
Khawla Barley is the founder and director of Goals UAE, a volunteer-based community initiative that provides extracurricular opportunities for children with autism, developmental and intellectual disabilities in Abu Dhabi. Her struggle to find ways to engage her young son with autism was the spark behind the formation of Goals UAE. Through a growing number of government and community partnerships, Khawla develops sustainable and impactful programs for individuals and families impacted by autism.
Lama Ayoub BCBA, Applied and Behavioral Training Institute. A licensed and board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA). Since more than fifteen years she has worked and supported children with autism and their families in Canada and the United Arab Emirates. She has exceptional experience in training staff and creating behavior intervention plans for children with autism. Her particular interest is strengthening the inclusion of children with autism in their community.
Michelle Chioccola is a licensed special education teacher and Board Certified Behavior Analyst with MRC-NECC. She has been working in the field of Autism education for the past 20 years, and is passionate about parent training and extending skills learned at school into the home and community environments.
Mike Ballard leads the Vocational Education Department at MRC-NECC. Mike holds a Master’s Degree in Severe Special Education and is a BCBA. Mike has a decade of experience working with individuals with autism with a primary focus on older students and preparing them for transition to adulthood. Since opening the Vocational Education Department in 2016, Mike has raised awareness about Vocational Education by working with companies, universities, and schools to develop volunteering and internship opportunities for his students.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Special Education-Operated by The New England Center for Children-Abu Dhabi (MRC-NECC)’s mission is to transform the lives of children with autism worldwide through education, research, and technology. Our Vision is to be a global leader in the provision of effective evidence-based educational services for the millions of under-served children with autism and their families. Our Goal is to teach children with autism the skills necessary to lead independent and productive lives, using the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis. Intensive, individualized instruction is provided in academic, social, language, motor, self-help, leisure and life skills.
Nilima Vengsarkar is the Head of Department of Work Placement at the Al Noor Centre for Persons with Disabilities. She is a Special Educator integrating students in the community by training them in life skills, seeking respectable employment for them and monitoring their progress thereafter. In the last 12 years, she has placed more than 95 students across diverse fields such as MNC’s, banks, schools, sheltered workshops, shops, factories, hotels etc.
Nipa Bhuptani has been closely involved with learners with special educational and behavioral needs, their teachers and families in various settings for over 25 years. She is the founder of the Autism Support Network UAE, a platform for parents and professionals who are touched by Autism. She is also the Director of Applied & Behavioral Training Institutes, Dubai; where ABA-based training is provided to Educators and Caregivers of persons with Developmental Disabilities. Professionally, Nipa has a masters in special and Inclusive education and is a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA), providing Autism/ABA services in United Arab Emirates. The scope of her services pertains to coaching & training parents and educators in the implementation of ABA-based intervention and providing Early Intervention services to children in UAE.
Nusaibah Al Ameri holds a master’s degree in Special Education from Zayed University, and a certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology. She works currently as the professional development lead at Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Special Education-operated by the New England Center for Children (MRC-NECC) where she designs and delivers a variety of training workshops and lectures on teaching different skills and managing behavior using ABA to professionals in the field, the families of children with ASD, and to the community.
Dr. Onita Nakra is an educational psychologist. She obtained her Ph.D. (Educational Psychology) from the University of Minnesota with a specialization in cognitive interventions for special needs learners. She has worked with schools, educators, and families for over two decades, and authored two books: “Children and Learning Difficulties”, and “Understanding Autism: A Guide for Parents and Teachers”. Currently employed at the American School of Dubai, she provides diagnostic assessments for children and parental support.
Rekha Warrier, a post graduate in Psychology, BSc Human Development and Diploma holder in Special Education. In the field of special education since 1995, she was employed for 15 years at Al Noor training centre for special needs, and has been implementing CLM since 2012, initially as an Instructor and then as a CLM certified coach for new Instructors. Currently a CLM Coach at Applied & Behavioral Training Institute, involved in mentoring the implementation of CLM at Nurseries, Schools, Centres and Clinics in UAE.
Tasneem Abu Rouza graduated from University of Jordan with a Master’s degree in Special Education and joined MRC-NECC in 2008. She became a BCBA in 2012. Tasneem is currently the Assistant Director of Professional Development at MRC-NECC. In this role, Tasneem is responsible for training new staff, maintaining staff professional development, as well as training parents on basic principles of ABA to incorporate successful behavior management strategies in the home in both English and Arabic.
Dr. Siri Ming is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral with over 20 years experience in the field, working with individuals with developmental disabilities and autism and their families in a variety of capacities and has provided training and consultation for agencies and individual consultants using an analysis of verbal behavior approach to programs for children with autism since 1996. Her research and practice focus is on the synthesis of Skinnerian Verbal Behavior and Relational Frame Theory.
