Special Education in Saudi Arabia: History and Areas for Reform

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine and conduct a historical overview of special education in Saudi Arabia. Special education has existed in Saudi Arabia since 1958 and has made considerable progress in providing services to students with disabilities. However, there is still a need for im-provement in educating students with disabilities and in the movement toward inclusive educa-tion. Providing free and appropriate public education for such students should be the purpose guiding special education in the country. This paper discusses the areas that need to be improved in order to ensure that students receive the best possible education within inclusive learning en-vironments.