Our Team – Jumpstart Center

Staff

Meet Our Clinical Team

Adrienne Robek

PhD, BCBA-D

Adrienne Robek

PhD, BCBA-D

Dr. Robek is a doctoral-level psychologist and BCBA-D who has been working with people on the autism spectrum since 1998. She provides an array of services that range from assessments to the development of ABA programs. She is the author of My Child Has Autism – A Handbook for Parents and Professionals and has created her own ABA curriculum. Dr. Robek started home-based ABA divisions for two companies in New York City, as well as ABA programs at special needs schools in Chandigarh, India and in Qatar. She has also completed a course in ADHD coaching, further expanding her expertise in supporting individuals with attention and executive functioning challenges.

Nicol Randeria

MSc (SLT)

Nicol Randeria

MSc (SLT)

Nicol is a Speech and Language Therapist who holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology and Language Therapy from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She later completed her Master's degree in Speech and Language Therapy at the University of the Witwatersrand, with a specialization in Cerebral Palsy. She is certified in Oral Placement Therapy (OPT) Level 1 and holds additional certifications as a specialist in Dyslexia, Selective Mutism, and Gestalt Natural Language Acquisition. Nicol is passionate about working with children with special needs and has a particular interest in articulation therapy and literacy development.

Malavika Pillai

MSc, SLP

Malavika Pillai

MSc, SLP

Malavika Pillai is a Speech and Language Therapist with over 12 years of clinical experience. She holds a dual MSc in Speech and Language Pathology and Audiology from Bangalore University and was previously licensed by the National Health Regulatory Authority in Bahrain. She is trained in Oral Placement Therapy (Level 1), Hanen – It Takes Two to Talk, PECS, and PROMPT, and holds a specialized certification in Dyslexia. Malavika follows an evidence-based, family-centered approach, supporting speech, language, and early communication development through individualized care.

Farah Bou Zeid

BSC OT, Senior OT, Occupational Therapist

Farah Bou Zeid

BSC OT, Senior OT, Occupational Therapist

Farah graduated from the Lebanese University in Beirut with a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy and is currently pursuing a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) fellowship. Specializing in pediatric therapy, she has over 5 years of experience working in various clinics. Farah is also trained in Psychological First Aid (PFA), neuroscience, neurodevelopment, and behavior management strategies. She is a certified dysgraphia specialist and provides standardized assessments, individualized treatment plans, and parental guidance.

Elsa Abraham

BA, SLP, Senior Speech and Language Therapist

Elsa Abraham

BA, SLP, Senior Speech and Language Therapist

Elsa is a licensed Speech and Language Pathologist under the Department of Healthcare Professions (DHP), Ministry of Public Health in Qatar. With over 8 years of experience in Qatar and India, she specializes in evidence-based communication and feeding therapy for children with diverse needs. Elsa is certified in advanced therapeutic approaches including Natural Language Acquisition (NLA), the SOS Approach to Feeding, PROMPT, Oral Placement Therapy (OPT), and Avaz AAC. Her sessions are tailored to each child’s goals, supporting progress in speech clarity, language development, and feeding challenges.

Nurina Hisham

BS (HONS), Psychology

Nurina Hisham

BS (HONS), Psychology

Nurina holds a degree in Psychology and is an ABA-trained therapist with practical experience supporting children with autism, developmental delays, and other special needs. She uses principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), early intervention, and individualized education plans (IEPs) to promote communication, positive behavior, and independence. Her approach is evidence-based and family-focused, designed to help each child make meaningful progress in a structured and supportive environment.

Janet Bright

B.ED

Janet Bright

B.ED

With over 13 years of experience, Janet specializes in early intervention and play-based therapy for autistic children and those with special needs. A certified Therapeutic Play Practitioner and ABA-trained professional, she uses engaging, sensory-rich activities to support social, emotional, and cognitive development. Janet is committed to continuous learning and providing meaningful, individualized experiences for every child.

Nashwa Mansour

B.ED Psychology

Nashwa Mansour

B.ED Psychology

With a background in psychology and a strong passion for working with children, her focus is on helping them grow, build confidence, and enjoy learning. Committed to their progress, the aim is to provide a caring and stimulating space where they can thrive.

Tala Zahwi

MA, Psychomotor

Tala Zahwi

MA, Psychomotor

Tala is a psychomotor therapist with a Master’s degree from Saint Joseph University in Beirut. She has experience working with children with autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, and learning difficulties in both school and clinical settings. Combining movement-based therapy with creativity, Tala designs engaging sessions that support motor skills, attention, and emotional regulation—helping each child grow with confidence.

Rim Sweidan

MSc, SLP

Rim Sweidan

MSc, SLP

Rim holds a Master of Science in Speech Therapy from the University of Saint Joseph and has over four years of experience working with children with communication delays. She specializes in early intervention, focusing on developing foundational language skills through child-centered, play-based therapy. With a strong interest in early communication and literacy support, Rim collaborates with families to promote practical language development strategies. She is fluent in Arabic and English, bringing cultural sensitivity and evidence-based care to her sessions.

Madiha Atif

MSc, SLP

Madiha Atif

MSc, SLP

Madiha Atif is a DHP-licensed Speech and Language Pathologist with over 11 years of experience supporting children with speech, language, communication, feeding, and learning difficulties. She works with individuals with autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, hearing loss, and developmental delays using evidence-based, family-centered care. She holds a BSc in Speech and Language Pathology from the University of Health Sciences (Lahore) and an MSc in Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy from SAERA College, Spain. Madiha is Qatar’s first Qualified Autism Service Practitioner–Supervisor (QASP-S) and is also certified as an International Behavior Analyst and Advanced Certified Autism Specialist. Her additional training includes ADOS-2, PROMPTs+, PECS, SOS Feeding, OPT, and the Orton-Gillingham Approach. Madiha is committed to helping individuals achieve meaningful progress in communication and daily life.

Rachel Youssef

Rachel is the Operations Director at Jumpstart Center and holds a BA in Business Management. With over 12 years of experience, she leads operational strategy, team development, and customer service excellence. Rachel is committed to creating efficient systems that support the center’s mission of helping every child learn and grow.

Staff

Meet Our Clinical Team

Adrienne Robek

Nicol Randeria

Malavika Pillai

Farah Bou Zeid

Elsa Abraham

Nurina Hisham

Janet Bright

Nashwa Mansour

Tala Zahwi

Rim Sweidan

Madiha Atif

Rachel Youssef

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