#MeetTheTeacherAtSEEC | Meet the educator who believes in understanding before teaching at Special Em’s

In special education, some behaviors may initially lead adults to think that a child is “uncooperative” or “doesn’t want to learn.” Yet behind every behavior may be an unmet need, a skill the child has not yet learned to use, or a form of communication that adults have not yet learned to understand.

Supporting children therefore requires more than professional expertise. It also calls for patience, keen observation, and the belief that every child has the potential to grow and develop in their own way.

With four years of experience in special education, Ms. Do Thi Diem Suong is currently an Intervention Teacher at Special Em’s Education Center (SEEC). She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, and has experience working with children aged 2.5 to 7, including children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), language delays, intellectual disabilities, ADHD, and other support needs.

Ms. Suong’s areas of expertise include early intervention, functional communication development, and individualized intervention planning. Throughout her work, she has been involved in developing IEP goals, monitoring children’s progress, and designing activities to support the development of communication, cognitive, self-care, and adaptive behavior skills. She has also received training in and applies a range of intervention approaches and tools, including ABA, AAC, DTT, NET, Prompting, Behavior Intervention, and PRT, alongside certifications in Speech and Language Therapy for Children with Autism and Special Education.

For Ms. Suong, the most important principle when working with children is to “understand the child before teaching the child.” She believes that when adults know how to listen to and respect each child’s individuality, learning can become more natural and effective. Rather than focusing on what a child cannot do yet, she seeks to understand the reasons behind their behavior, adapt her communication, break goals down into smaller steps, and choose approaches that are appropriate to each child’s abilities.

At Special Em’s, Ms. Suong continues to build on her strengths in individual intervention and developing programs tailored to each child. She also works closely with families to support children in maintaining their progress in everyday life. With dedication, patience, and a commitment to continuous learning, she hopes to help every child discover that they are capable of making progress—even if it begins with the smallest of steps.

Because to her, every child develops at their own pace. And sometimes, the first thing adults need to do is not ask children to change, but simply give them more time to understand how they are trying to communicate with the world.