Disability Trends in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Disability is a major challenge for the Saudi healthcare sector. Data about the incidence and prevalence of impairment and disability and sociodemographic characteristics of people with disabilities are scarce and incomplete and probably underestimate the actual burden of disability. Policies and legislation have supported the equal rights of persons with disabilities, but ineffective implementation of these laws has created a gap between the intended aims and the actual provision of services. Clearly, more research is needed to plan for appropriate management programs, effective implementation of primary prevention strategies, and proper allocation of health resources in this area.

Protecting Children in Saudi Arabia: Preparing Trainee Social Workers

“…It has also been determined that some children subjected to abuse may have suffered physical disabilities (Al-Thagafi, 2013), therefore they are beneficial placements for trainee social workers, who can then see the result of domestic violence. However, disabilities may still be a source of shame in Saudi families (Al-Gain and Al-Abdulwahab, 2002), and the full extent of the number of disabled children in Saudi Arabia is unknown (Al-Jadid, 2013). The number of placements dealing with disabilities is therefore interesting, given the cultural background, as it promotes understanding of this section of society.…”

A Web-Based Intelligent Tutoring System to Facilitate the Children's Understanding of Animals' Stories Through Keywords Extraction and Multimedia Elements

“…In 2013-14 around 6.5 million students with ages from 3 to 21 suffer from some level of ID and get a special education service under IDEA [3]. According to a demographic survey there are approximately 135,000 people with disabilities in Saudi Arabia, which represents about 0.8% of the total population [4]. Another study of official statistics in the State of Qatar [5] indicates that in 2014, there are around 9,600 disabled persons registered in more than one special needs center to receive special services.…”

The Construction of Sickle Cell Disorder in Saudi Arabia: The Invisible Disease

“…As noted earlier, the risk is increased in populations that have a strong social tradition of consanguinity (Alkuraya & Kilani, 2001). Thus, in Saudi Arabia, where the practice of consanguinity is prevalent, the incidence of genetically related disabilities, including sickle cell, is relatively high (Al-Jadid, 2013). Nonetheless, in these communities, while the disease is visible to the insider, it remains largely invisible to the broader social group.…”

“…A potential complication was a degree of disability that could be physical or mental or both. As noted above, the term disability is associated with denial in Saudi Arabian communities in order to protect disabled individuals and their families (Al-Jadid, 2013 A great deal of research attributes uncertainty to lack of knowledge Royer, 2000;Ulph et al, 2011). As noted above, the need for more education is a dominant theme in research on SCD (Royer, 2000;Ulph et al, 2011).…”

“…Indeed, those with sickle cell in Saudi Arabia are often perceived to be disabled, or in the process of becoming disabled, because disability and sickle cell are linked. Disability in Saudi Arabia is a situation that is often associated with shame and embarrassment where the disabled are stigmatised, and as a result, families have a tendency to hide these people (Al-Jadid, 2013). In recognition of this social reality, and as has occurred in Western countries, the term 'disability' has been replaced by 'people with special needs' in public discourse (Al-Jadid, 2013, p. 455).…”