Child Psychology and Behavior Analysis Consultant · Founder of ABA 4 Change
Dr. Mayada Elsabah
د. ميادة الصباح
From science to practice… toward lasting impact.
An expert in inclusive education, psychological support and behavior analysis, she helps governments, UN agencies and educational institutions develop and implement evidence-based programmes aligned with international standards and the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
Hands-on experience with
United Nations (UNRWA)RedR AustraliaINJAZ (UNICEF-supported project)Queen Zein Al Sharaf Institute for DevelopmentIstanbul International Community School (IICS)American International School in CairoBritish International School in Cairo
At a glance
18+
Years of multidisciplinary experience
A career spanning inclusive education, psychological support, behavior analysis, programme development and institutional capacity building.
5
Years with the UN & NGOs
Field work with UN agencies and non-governmental organisations in Jordan.
3
International professional credentials
QBA · IBA · BCCS in behavior analysis and cognitive specialization.
2
Humanitarian expert rosters
Rostered as an Inclusion and Child Protection Officer with RedR Australia and CANADEM.
Her view
Supportive, inclusive environments aren’t built by policy alone… they take shape when everyday practice changes
Many inclusion and psychosocial support programmes start with a good vision, then stall in implementation: staff without enough training or supervision, data that doesn’t reveal needs or who is being excluded, and families who don’t know where to turn.
Mayada believes lasting change is designed into the system itself, through policy, workforce, data, referral pathways and family support, in ways that strengthen inclusion and wellbeing and keep the impact going after the project ends.
Mayada Elsabah · Child Psychology and Behavior Analysis Consultant
Mayada began her career in 2007 as a teacher at international schools in Cairo, then moved into humanitarian work in Jordan with INJAZ and the Queen Zein Al Sharaf Institute for Development. From 2020 to 2021 she was seconded by RedR Australia to the United Nations (UNRWA), first at headquarters and then as the officer in charge of the inclusion programme in the Jordan Field Office.
Since 2021 she has worked as an independent consultant and leads ABA 4 Change, an education provider approved by IBAO and IBCCES, which trains and supervises practitioners, supports schools and families, and organises professional conferences across the Arab region.
Inside the UN system
Hands-on experience with UNRWA
2020 – 2021
Inclusion Programme Officer, UNRWA Jordan Field Office
Mainstreamed inclusion across all field-office programmes, developed and trained staff in UNRWA schools and facilities, and strengthened psychosocial support programmes for families and caregivers.
2020
Inclusive Education Officer, UNRWA Headquarters, Amman
Supported implementation of UNRWA’s Inclusive Education Policy and Strategy across the five fields where UNRWA operates, and the COVID-19 education-in-emergencies taskforce.
2017 – 2019
Refugee education and child protection in Jordan
Trained Syrian refugee students on a UNICEF-supported career-guidance campaign, and trained teachers in child protection.
“At UNRWA Jordan, Mayada systemised referral pathways and established a psychosocial support group for parents of children with disabilities to provide guidance on at-home support.”
RedR Australia, Australia Assists Annual Report 2021
Ways to work together
Get in touch with Dr. Mayada
01
Speaking engagements
Keynotes, panels and technical sessions in Arabic and English for ministries, UN and donor forums, and professional conferences. Please include the date, subject, location and format of the engagement.
02
Consulting and technical assistance
Needs assessments, programme and guideline design, and reviews of referral systems, data and inclusion plans. For evaluation or technical-assistance assignments, please send the terms of reference (ToR) or request for proposals (RFP).
03
Capacity building at scale
Training-of-trainers programmes and learning and supervision pathways for teams in one country or across several. Please include the number of participants, target countries and delivery language.
Past engagements
Selected media, conferences and awards
Conference · Award
IABC Conference, Beirut: Award for Excellence in Social Responsibility
Conference · Award
Elle Conference: Changemaker Award
Podcast
Value Maker with Mayada Elsabah
Introductory video
Meet ABA 4 Change with Dr. Mayada Elsabah
Qualifications
Education and professional credentials
Education
- Doctorate in Child Psychology (PsyD)
- Master’s in Clinical Psychology
- Master of International Education, American International College, USA (2012)
- Bachelor of Science, Ain Shams University (2007)
Credentials
- QBA, Qualified Behavior Analyst (QABA)
- IBA, International Behavior Analyst (IBAO)
- BCCS, Board Certified Cognitive Specialist (IBCCES)
- Applied Behavior Analysis certificate, Florida Institute of Technology (2019)
Humanitarian training
- Essentials of Humanitarian Practice, RedR Australia / University of Melbourne
- GBV Risk Mitigation, UNICEF
- Children’s Human Rights, University of Geneva
- Building a Better Response, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative
Languages
- Arabic (native)
- English (professional)
- Turkish (basic)
Invite Dr. Mayada to speak or request an institutional consultation
Share the proposed date, topic, intended audience, country and the nature or scope of the engagement.