To Be a University for All

By Dr. Sahar Al-Khashrami

Associate professor of special education

King Saud University has always been caring with students with disabilities. It provides them with services they need to overstep difficulties they might ever face up. It helps the partially-sighted students with somebody to write down in their behalf. It provides escorts for them to shuttle on campus and do other things for them.

Yet, another people with other type of disabilities receive no care by the university, despite on campus. They are students with learning disorder  or dyslexia and those who are physically impaired.

As a specialist in special education, a question raised in mind: "Why do not we make an integration of hearing-impaired students, despite that their needs are less than the partially sighted students.

I remember that the western universities like Gallaudet; Bristol; Leeds; and Central England provide means to students with disabilities. It provides them with sign translators to go on campus life easily. For example, 32.000 students enroll in Central England University, one out of seven students is with disability.

Some of Saudi students, having high school degree, traveled abroad to earn an academic degree. They succeeded so far and came back to work for various companies and places.

But, the question still on:" Why don't we let them enroll in Saudi universities?" Cannot we integrate them with the university ?" I think we are able to make KSU a distinctive and open for all.