Children with Special Needs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Their Needs and Rights

306 Pages·2013·15.32 MB·English

Children with Special Needs in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Their
Needs and Rights
Thesis submitted for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
at the University of Leicester
By
Ahmad Al rubiyea, BA, MA,
School of Social Work
University of Leicester
April 2010
Dedication
wife
"q'o my CJ>arents, and
Chi(drert'
II
Abstract
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is in the process of developing and modernising its
organisations to meet and cope with the challenges posed by national and
international changes. Child and family issues have become an integral part of
the Kingdom strategies, vision and policies.
There is a lack of comprehensive research that focuses on children with special
needs rights and needs in Saudi Arabia and the role of the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia in meeting and protecting their rights. This research represents the first
research in this area. The research aims to examine the rights and needs of
children with special needs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Extensive quantitative and qualitative data collected from Saudi Arabia children
special needs sector using semi-structured questionnaires, focus groups and in
depth interviews. The collected data analysis with outcome of the literature
survey used to discuss the main outcome of the research.
A number of conclusions have been drawn from this research. The Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia has taken several steps towards ensuring children with special
needs rights and needs such as the introduction of inclusion of children with
special needs with the main stream primary school education. However, the
child with special needs in the Kingdom is still in its early stage in the Kingdom.
The Saudi parents with children with special needs under stress due to a lack of
appropriate policies and guidelines for there children with special needs. The
research has identified social barriers as one of the main obstacles for children
with special needs rights and needs. The research also provides practical
recommendation for prompting children with special needs in Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia.
III
Acknowledgments
I wish to express my great and most sincere thanks to my supervisor, Dr. Kwame
Owusu-Bempah, for his valuable guidance, encouragement and moral support
throughout the course of the research. Further, I thank Professor P J Aldgat
(External Examiner) and Dr. E Anderson (Internal Examiner) for their invaluable
comments and continuous encouragement. I would like to extend my thanks to
the administrative staff of the Department of Social Work for their help and care
during the period of my research, particularly Mrs. Christina Cazalet, Michelle, W,
and Mrs. Ann Ketnor. Special thanks are due to my family members, wife, and
children for their constant encouragement, support, patience and help during the
course of the research.
N
List of Contents
Dedication I
Abstract "
Acknowledgments III
List of Contents IV
List of Figures XI
List of Tables XIII
Chapter One: Introduction 1
Introduction 2
Research Aims and Objectives 3
Importance of the Research 4
Research Questions 5
Research Methodology 5
Structure of the Thesis 7
Chapter Two: Literature Review 9
Introduction 10
Culture 15
Child Development 20
Child Development Theories 22
Ecology of Human Development 23
Microsystem and Human Development 26
Mesosystem and Human Development 26
The Exosystem and Human Development 28
The Macrosystem and Human Development 29
Children with special Needs and Politics 32
Disability Models 33
Medical Model 34
Social Model 35
v
Children with Special Needs and the State 38
The Family 41
Family Structure and Children with Special Needs 44
Family Structure in Saudi Arabia 46
Religion and the Family 51
Shifts in Cultural Values 51
Society and the Family as Systems 51
System Boundary 52
Closed Social Systems 53
Open System Societies 56
Conclusions 57
Chapter Three: Research Background: The kingdom of Saudi Arabia 58
Introduction 59
The Saudi family 60
Family Size 61
Marriage and Divorce 63
Education 66
National Commission for Family Affairs 67
H~~ ~
Islamic Perspectives towards Disability 69
Provision for People with Special Needs in Saudi Arabia 71
Definition of People wi~ Special Needs in Saudi Arabia 72
The Rights of People with Special Needs in Saudi Arabia 73
The Right to Work 74
The Right to Education 75
The Right to Care 75
Social Welfare in Saudi Arabia 77
Institutional Welfare Programmes for People with Special Needs 79
Social Welfare Policy in Saudi Arabia 82
Welfare System in Saudi Arabia 84
VI
Ministry of Education 84
Ministry of Social Affairs 88
Ministry of Health 90
The Saudi Care Association for Children with Disabilities 91
Prince Salman Centre for Disability Research 91
Concluding Remarks 92
Chapter Four: Research Methodology 93
Introduction 94
Research Philosophy 94
Research Strategies 95
Research Sample and Design 97
Research samples 97
Parents and Care Professionals Samples 102
Questionnaire Samples 102
Interview Samples 106
Focus Groups Samples 107
Research Method Design 107
Semi-structured Questionnaire 108
In-depth Semi-structured interviews 111
Parent of Children with Special Needs Focus Group 113
Documentation 114
Data Analysis 115
Pilot Study 115
Chapter Five: Quantitative Data Analysis 118
Introduction 119
Characteristics of the Sample 120
Parents' Gender 120
Professionals' Gender 120
Parents' Age 120
Professionals' age 120
VII
Parents' Martial Status 120
Parents' Employment 121
Professionals' Professions 121
Professionals' experience 121
Regions and Disabilities 122
Number of Children in the Family 122
Number of children with special needs receiving care in the family 123
Children Receiving Care, by age 124
Time Spent in Receiving Care 125
Frequency of Attendance at Care Agency 126
Reason, for taking the Child to the Care Agency 127
Rights of Children with Special Needs 128
Welfare Policy meets children needs 128
Care agency staff helpful of children with special needs 129
Care agency has high values 130
The relationship between the parents and the agency 131
Care Agency and Children's Needs and Satisfaction 131
Care Agency Meets and Satisfies the Needs of Parents 133
Equal Opportunity in Education 134
Equal Rights in Health 135
Children's Views and the Care Agency 136
Children's Right to Proper Care 137
National Policy and the Rights of Children with Special Needs 138
Care agency puts its values into practice 139
The Authorities Play an Important Role in Promoting the Rights of 140
Children with Special Needs
Childcare Authorities and Policies on the Rights of Children with 141
Special Needs
Parents play an important role in Ensuring the rights of children 142
with Special needs
Family Stress 143
Main Problems and Obstacles 144
VIII
Responses to the Open Ended Questions 146
Concluding Remarks 153
Chapter Six: Qualitative Data Analysis 154
Introduction 155
Analysis of Focus Groups of Parents of Children with Special Needs 155
Children with Special Needs: Needs 156
Educational Needs 156
Health Needs 157
Social Skills Needs 158
Daily Care Needs 159
Children with Special Needs: Rights 160
Equal Opportunity Rights 160
The Right to be Respected and Valued 160
The Right to Education 160
The Right to Appropriate Care 161
Rights to Participate in Society 162
Roles of the Kingdom, Parents and Society 162
Role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 163
The Role of Parents 163
The Role of Society 164
The Role of the Authorities 165
Children with Special Needs: Problems and Obstacles 166
Social Barriers 166
Stress to Parents 168
Financial Issues 170
Abuse and Prejudices 172
Interviews with Authorities for Children with Special Needs 173
Children with Special Needs: Needs 174
Children with Special Needs: Rights 178
Children with Special Needs: Roles 185
IX
Children with Special Needs: Problems and Obstacles 189
Future Plans 192
Chapter Seven: Discussions 194
Introduction 195
Saudi Families with a Child Receiving Care 196
Saudi Family Structure 196
The Saudi Family and the Culture of Society 199
Children with Special Needs: Their Needs 204
Recreational Needs 205
Educational Needs 207
Health Monitoring Needs 208
Need for Social Skills 209
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Skills 210
Appropriate Care 210
Transport 211
Financial Needs 212
Stress on the Saudi Family 212
Social Barriers for Children with Special Needs in Saudi Arabia 214
Children with Special Needs Rights 218
Rights of Children with Special Needs: Education 219
Equal Rights in Health Care 220
Children's Views: the Right to be Respected and Valued 223
Right to Proper Care 225
National Policy 227
Social Accessibility Rights: Integration/Inclusion Policy 229
Role of the Kingdom in Protecting the Rights of Children with Special Needs and 230
Meeting their Needs
Role of the Parents in Protecting the Rights of Children with Special Needs 231
Attitudes towards the Rights of Children with Special Needs 232
Family 233
Care Professionals 233