As the founder and managing director of Hope Abilitation Medical Center, Amal Tolba’s work is inspired by her life. The parent of a disabled child herself, Tolba’s work involves building a community to support the parents of children with special needs, raising awareness about the importance of specialized care, and advocating for better policies and funding. 

Tolba has always put empathy at the core of her leadership approach, drawing on her life experiences. “My journey began as a parent of a disabled child, which instilled in me a deep sense of empathy and understanding of the unique challenges faced by families with special needs children,” she says. This eventually led her to become an entrepreneur and focus on supporting others as they navigate similar experiences.

One of the most significant challenges she faced in her career was sharing the news of the diagnosis with parents of children with special needs. She found that delivering the news was challenging because of the fear of accepting, preparing, and adapting to life-altering circumstances. “To overcome this challenge, I established a support group within our community. This group provides a safe space for parents to share their experiences, emotions, and coping strategies,” she says.

For Tolba, creating a community that focuses on hope and resilience is always important, and ensuring her staff is trained and empowered to deal with families is key to her success. “By leading with empathy, I strive to create an environment where everyone feels valued, heard, and supported,” says Tolba, who founded the UAE Special Needs Support Group in 2015. This community initiative has been a go-to haven of support and comfort, offering educational resources and valuable information about therapies, treatments, and more. The community now includes over 300 mothers who are invested in the community’s success as a whole.

In the next few years, Tolba aspires to expand the reach and impact of the Hope Abilitation Medical Center by opening additional branches in the region. By establishing global collaborations, and investing in the continuous professional development of her team, she seeks to drive positive change as an advocate for different-abled children and their families. “I would like to raise more awareness about the importance of specialized care for special needs children, and advocate for better policies and funding to support these services, ensuring that they become more accessible to families in need,” she says.