Quality of higher education and self-determination for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students in Saudi Arabia

IF 2.9 2区医学 Q1 EDUCATION, SPECIAL

Research in Developmental Disabilities Pub Date : 2025-04-10 DOI:10.1016/j.ridd.2025.105008

Aseel S. Alsuhaibani, Sarah M. Albuzaid

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Saudi Arabia's Persons with Disabilities Rights Law guarantee the rights of individuals with disabilities to receive high-quality education. Therefore, Saudi Arabian higher education institutions have implemented programs specifically designed for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) students. According to the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (2023), quality in higher education supports students in achieving positive learning and career outcomes. One form of support is the enhancement of self-determination skills, despite evidence of self-determination's role in facilitating success in higher education, research on deaf education has not explored this construct extensively.

Aim

This study explored the role of self-determination in enhancing the quality of higher education for DHH students according to the program’s staff’ perspectives. Furthermore, this study examines the opportunities provided to practice self-determination skills.

Methods

A qualitative approach was employed, involving semi-structured interviews with seven staff from six higher education institutes in Saudi Arabia.

Results

Inductive thematic analysis of the interview data revealed three key themes. First, interpreter scarcity hinders Deaf students' major selection, affecting their academic quality. Second, Deaf Role Models influence Deaf students' self-determination, thus affecting their academic quality. Finally, self-regulation was the least supported component of self-determination due to higher education institutes policies and support services.

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来源期刊

Research in Developmental Disabilities Multiple-

CiteScore

5.50

自引率

6.50%

发文量

178

期刊介绍： Research In Developmental Disabilities is aimed at publishing original research of an interdisciplinary nature that has a direct bearing on the remediation of problems associated with developmental disabilities. Manuscripts will be solicited throughout the world. Articles will be primarily empirical studies, although an occasional position paper or review will be accepted. The aim of the journal will be to publish articles on all aspects of research with the developmentally disabled, with any methodologically sound approach being acceptable.