KSU encourages special needs students to excel

Abdullateef Al-Jafari, director of the Al-Ahsa Handicapped Society, said that 22 students with various special needs have been accepted as regular students at King Faisal University, while 15 other students gained acceptance to the distance-learning program, said Al-Jafari.
“Numerous students were accepted at the Technology Institute and King Saud University following coordination between university administrations and the society,” added Al-Jafari.
“The applicant should be registered in the society’s database, should have completed high school and should apply for registration via the university website. Applicants with special needs are exempt from the age requirement.”
He explained that the society seeks to attract students with special needs who wish to continue their studies.
“Services offered by the society cater for all categories of disabilities. Students can file an application either by visiting the headquarters of the society or via the website, www.hdisabled.com.”
Abdulaziz Al-Hulaibi, director of Public Relations and Media at King Faisal University, said students accepted by the university were admitted to the College of Arts.
“The university is offering them extensive support to successfully pursue their studies. The university provides them with a defined bonus depending on the severity of the disability, in addition to a monthly salary received by every student,” added Al-Hulaibi. Khaled Al-Salim, director of employment and training at the society, says that the society provides general education to every individual with disabilities. “Our role here at the society is to follow up on the progress of each and every student and to provide assistance so they can enhance their educational level and prove to society that they are just as capable of learning and achievement as others,” he said.
He emphasized that the university has already equipped entrances with user-friendly facilities for disabled persons.
He said that a large number of students with special needs have excelled in their chosen fields of study. “These students need all the support and encouragement they can get to be admitted to colleges to help meet the needs of the labor market. Their admittance should not be restricted to any one faculty or discipline,” he said.
“The Ministry of Higher Education should liaise with other establishments to integrate these students in a way that will allow them to pursue higher studies and excel in their fields of choice.”