Performing supervisory and pedagogical roles within special education, Alia Al-Suwaidi ’24MSEd is determined to ensure that all children — regardless of their disability — can learn and thrive effectively. She is a member of the first international cohort of Simmons students at the Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Special Education, operated by the New England Center for Children (MRC-NECC). This program enables local staff in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) to earn their Master of Science in Education through MRC-NECC. At her graduation this spring, Al-Suwaidi received the inaugural Dr. D. Daniel Gould Award for Global Excellence in Special Education Teaching in recognition of her dedication to the discipline. We spoke with Al-Suwaidi about memories of her mentor, the value of a Simmons education, and the importance of teaching from the heart.
“I was extremely excited to be recognized for my ambition, passion, and commitment to becoming a special education teacher. . . . I felt so honored to be the first-ever recipient, knowing how much it meant to everyone involved,” says Alia Al-Suwaidi ’24MSEd upon receiving the inaugural Dr. D. Daniel Gould Award for Global Excellence in Special Education Teaching.
This award recognizes Al-Suwaidi’s hard work and dedication as she pursued her Master of Science in Education degree from Simmons. This specific program is based at the Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Special Education, operated by the New England Center for Children (MRC-NECC) and Simmons University. In her current role as Lead Therapist, Al-Suwaidi supervises a preschool classroom of nine students and seven teachers. Together with a team of specialists, she generates an Individualized Education Plan for each student and oversees each student’s case.
A Simmons Education Abroad
MRC-NECC, a day school in Abu Dhabi that serves Emirati children of determination, opened in 2007 under the auspices of The New England Center for Children (NECC), a world leader in autism education and research based in Southborough, MA. MRC-NECC began its partnership with NECC in 1992. The institution initially offered a master’s degree to U.S. staff at NECC-Abu Dhabi in 2009 and eventually to local staff, starting with Al-Suwaidi’s cohort. MRC-NECC provides 30 hours per week of intensive instruction and special education based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). MRC-NECC strives to help all children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) develop the skills necessary to lead independent and productive lives in the community and with their families.
Simmons’ commitment to advancing the education of children with autism has a longer prehistory. For over thirty years, Simmons has partnered with NECC. Founded in 1975 (initially as the Efficacy Research Institute) with modest means at the Taunton State Hospital, NECC has grown over the last nearly 50 years to teach children with ASD through its day school, residential program, and a partner classroom model within public schools, as well as a global consulting practice and an online curriculum that serve thousands of learners with autism around the world. Its mission is “to create a global network of educators, researchers, and programs so that those living with autism may live fuller lives.” Teachers employed at NECC receive specialized training from Simmons faculty and experts at NECC, including coursework, a practicum, and a master’s degree.
NECC has been working with children with autism in Abu Dhabi for more than 25 years, beginning with private consulting in 1997. After a decade, NECC opened a day school, NECC-Abu Dhabi (a directive of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi) that was later renamed the Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Special Education operated by NECC (MRC-NECC).
In March 2024, Al-Suwaidi was among the first international cohort of the Simmons program to graduate. “It’s a great feeling to be a part of this inaugural cohort. I feel that we have helped initiate something special for both MRC-NECC and Simmons University,” she says. “Our experience is unique and I feel proud to play a role in building the foundations for this wonderful program.”
Following the Footsteps of a Visionary
In the words of Christine Evans, Professor of Practice of Education and Director of Education Off-site Programs at Simmons, “Alia is a perfect choice for the Dr. D. Daniel Gould Award. Her passion for teaching and her leadership style embody the spirit of Dr. Dan’s vision and mission.”
Dr. Daniel Gould was a pillar of the NECC for over 35 years and went on to become the Executive Director of MRC-NECC. Al-Suwaidi had the chance to meet Gould before his untimely passing in 2021. When Al-Suwaidi met “Dr. Dan” (as he was known to his students), he gave her and her classmates a tour of MRC-NECC and conveyed to them the mission of the institution.
“When I first started working at MRC-NECC, it was evident that Dr. Dan was passionate about the Center and that he had worked hard to establish it in the UAE,” recalls Al-Suwaidi. “At that time, there seemed to be no other institution like it in Abu Dhabi. Witnessing someone like Dr. Dan arrive from overseas and become instrumental in providing these services to us was so inspiring, especially for a lifelong UAE resident like myself,” she explains.
Working at MRC-NECC was a vital opportunity for Al-Suwaidi, enriching her repertoire of skills and influencing the course of her career. She credits Dr. Dan and MRC-NECC for preparing her to succeed in the demanding field of special education. “Dr. Dan’s gift of superb training and professional development played a huge part in my passion and drive to continue in this field.” In the foreseeable future, Al-Suwaidi wishes to continue working at MRC-NECC, since she is “very passionate about their mission and vision.”
Al-Suwaidi found her concurrent Simmons education to be an amazing and transformative journey. “Through my Simmons studies, I learned different techniques and methods of teaching that I may not have been exposed to if I had studied locally,” she explains. For example, Applied Behavior Analysis constituted a cornerstone of her training. As she explains, this methodology “assisted me in addressing behavior management and taught me strategies . . . that help increase positive behaviors we want to see within a classroom.” Additionally, Al-Suwaidi notes, “I was able to meet extremely talented and passionate teachers who built my confidence in the area of special education.”
Self-Expression in the Classroom
Teaching seems like a natural fit for Al-Suwaidi, who gravitates toward young people and pedagogy. “I have always been very passionate about working with children and teaching in general. I enjoy helping children learn new concepts and explore their interests,” she explains. “When I was introduced to the discipline of Special Education, I realized that it was exactly what I was looking for in an occupation. It is important for me to make a difference in someone’s life; this occupation gives me an immense sense of purpose and fulfillment that I may not find elsewhere.”
In her teaching theory and practice, Al-Suwaidi is committed to “culturally responsive teaching.” She describes this pedagogical method as “a way of creating a safe, nurturing environment that fosters a sense of confidence and individuality. . . . Culturally responsive teaching ensures that students feel free to express themselves and limits any difficulties that students may encounter when learning in a diverse classroom [i.e., a classroom that includes students from different cultures and nationalities].” As Evans adds, “Alia is well-respected by her colleagues and supervisors. Her ability to incorporate culturally responsive teaching and differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all children in her classroom is exceptional.”
For those wishing to pursue a similar career path, “always teach with your heart,” advises Al-Suwaidi. “I know it sounds cliché, but I truly believe that when teachers teach with passion and love, students feel a sense of comfort that helps them learn and explore education safely and with excitement.”