Dr. Salwa Mohammed Asiri… knowledge, experience and a lifelong mission
Dr. Salwa Mohammed Asiri is a leading national figure in special education and support services. Her professional experience spans more than 30 years in educational leadership, educational administration, diagnosis and early intervention, during which she has dedicated her efforts to developing services for people with disabilities and supporting their families.
Dr. Salwa earned a bachelor's degree in special education from the Arab Open University, followed by a master's degree with honors from King Faisal University. She then completed her doctorate at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). Her academic journey reflects an ongoing commitment to deepening specialist knowledge and applying it to improve professional practice in the sector.
Her institutional contribution began with the founding of the Ministry of Education's Diagnosis and Early Intervention Center, which she led for ten years. During that time, she helped establish the importance of accurate diagnosis and early intervention and developed services that help children and their families access appropriate support at the right time.
Building on her career in special education, she founded Rayat Al Sharqiyah Private Schools, among the Kingdom's leading schools in inclusive education for students in special and general education. This reflects her belief that every student has the right to quality education in an environment that respects their needs, develops their abilities and strengthens their participation in society.
As her experience grew through direct engagement with children and families, she established Dr. Salwa Mohammed Asiri Center for Special Education Support Services. The center embodies her vision of an integrated system of diagnosis, rehabilitation and early intervention, guided by the highest professional and scientific standards, with multidisciplinary teams working together to meet each person's individual needs.
Dr. Salwa continues to lead the center with experience shaped by decades of work in the field and a deep personal commitment to every child and family. She believes every child deserves a real opportunity to grow and develop, and every family deserves trusted care and an understanding partner throughout their journey. Guided by this belief, she has made serving people with disabilities and their families a lifelong mission, dedicating her knowledge, experience and career to it.
My story… in Dr. Salwa's own words
Dr. Salwa Asiri… a journey that began with education and grew into empowerment
For thirty-five years, I have dedicated my academic and professional life to education, working across general and special education. I believe every child has the right to an education that respects their needs, develops their abilities and gives them a real opportunity to participate in their community.
Guided by this belief, I was given the opportunity to found the Ministry of Education's Diagnosis Center in the Eastern Province, which I led for ten years. That experience deepened my understanding of children's and families' needs. It confirmed that diagnosis and rehabilitation are the beginning of the journey, and that a welcoming, supportive educational environment is essential to completing it.
I therefore founded Rayat Al Sharqiyah Schools and made inclusion a foundation of their educational policy. I believe every child has the right to learn alongside their peers in a mainstream environment, with the support they need to grow and succeed.
Through my work in schools, I saw that some needs require specialized, intensive services, both within and beyond the school, through coordinated plans. This led me to establish Dr. Salwa Center for Special Education Support Services and Medical Rehabilitation, bringing together the medical aspects of accurate assessment and diagnosis with educational and rehabilitation approaches to training and empowerment.
This is my story: a journey that evolves with the needs of children and their families, guided by a firm belief that understanding a child's needs is the beginning, and enabling learning, participation and independence is the goal.
Dr. Salwa Mohammed Asiri
