Hey There!
I'm Dr. Nicci

​​It wasn’t until my son was diagnosed with autism that I began to truly understand inclusive education. I remember sitting at a table surrounded by “experts”. These experts were his teachers, the assistant principal, the school psychologist. They told me, based on their observations and testing, that my son was autistic.

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I thought it was interesting that they had picked up on that about him. So I replied, “Well, yeah. His father is artistic, so naturally he would be artistic too.” Someone at the table gently corrected me,  “No, not artistic. Autistic.”

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They proceeded to tell me all the things my son would not be able to do and how much he was going to struggle in life. The picture they painted was one of doom and gloom. I walked out of that meeting feeling like a failure as a parent. I kept thinking “I’ve failed my son.” I sat in my car in the parking lot and cried through an entire pack of tissues. Then I made a promise to myself: no one would ever make me feel that way again. And no parent should ever be made to feel like a failure.

 

That day, I decided to go back to school. I wanted to learn everything I could about autism so I could help my son succeed in and out of the classroom. I earned my associate’s degree, then continued on to a bachelor’s in social psychology, a master’s in special education, an educational specialist degree in educational leadership, and finally, a doctorate in K–12 leadership.

 

I pursued the doctorate because I wanted to be in a position to instill in practicing and future teachers the importance of advocacy not just for students with special needs, but for their families as well. At the time of my son’s diagnosis, I didn’t have many advocates. School administrators often say they are “partners in your child’s education,” but that’s not what I felt. I wanted to change that narrative. I wanted to send a clear message: as educators, we must not predict a child’s success based solely on perceived limitations. We are more than just teachers. We are advocates for every student who enters our classrooms, and for their families. We are their advocates, not their saviors. That message is not only something I share, but something I live. It is the foundation of my practice, and it continues to guide my work with educators from around the world!

 

Unique Insight

I am a native of Washington, D.C., as such, my family has deep roots in the city. I am a descendant of John F. Cook, a prominent 19th-century African American educator, businessman, and activist. His wife, Helen Appo Cook, was a founder of the National Association of Colored Women (NACW). “Lifting as we climb” was NACW’s motto.  Before discovering my connection to this legacy, I was already living by the principle, which continues to shape my life and work.

 

Historical Moment

In January 2026, I will start my term as the first African American President of the Division of International Special Education Services for the Council of Exceptional Children.