Special Education in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is a developing country situated in the southwestern region of Asia. It is the world's largest producer and exporter of oil and its derivatives. The modernization of Saudi Arabia has increased dramatically during the last decades as a result of increasing oil revenues; therefore, it is interesting to examine how special education practices in the kingdom have developed. This paper describes the emergence, development, and present status of Special Education in Saudi Arabia. The scope of this analysis is limited to the efforts of the Ministry of Education, for it is the major service provider. The expansion of services to include nontraditional areas of exceptionalities and service delivery models is discussed. The principle factors contributing to the growth of the field are identified.