Arabic-English Special Education Glossary for Parents in Saudi Arabia

You're sitting in an ILP meeting at your child's international school in Riyadh. The learning support coordinator switches between English and Arabic with the school counselor. You catch a few words — التقييم, الدعج التربوي — but the conversation moves quickly and placement decisions are being made. You don't have time to Google anything.

This is a common experience for expat parents in Saudi Arabia, and it creates a real asymmetry of information. Even in international schools that conduct meetings primarily in English, Arabic terms appear in official documents, referral letters, APD registration forms, and communications with state entities. Knowing the key terminology helps you track what's actually being decided.

Below is a working glossary of core special education terms used in Saudi Arabia's educational and clinical contexts.

Core Program Terms

Individualized Education Program (IEP) Arabic: البرنامج التربوي الفردي (al-barnamaj al-tarbawi al-fardi) In Saudi public schools under the RRSEP framework, this is the mandated planning document. International schools typically use "ILP" (Individual Learning Plan) as their internal equivalent, but this Arabic term appears in government communications and formal referral documents.

Individual Learning Plan (ILP) Arabic: خطة التعلم الفردية (khattat al-ta'allum al-fardiyya) The term used by most international schools for their internal support plans.

Special Education Programs (SEP) Arabic: برامج التربية الخاصة (baramij al-tarbiyya al-khasssa) The formal Arabic designation for special education services within the Ministry of Education framework.

Rules and Regulations of Special Education Programs (RRSEP) Arabic: لوائح وأنظمة برامج التربية الخاصة (lawa'ih wa-anzima baramij al-tarbiyya al-khassa) Saudi Arabia's foundational special education legislation, enacted in 2001, modeled on the US IDEA framework.

Least Restrictive Environment Arabic: أقل البيئات تقييدًا (aqall al-bi'at taqyidan) A mandated principle in RRSEP that students should be educated with non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate.

Disability and Diagnosis Terms

Learning Disability Arabic: صعوبات التعلم (su'ubat al-ta'allum) One of the 10 recognized disability categories under Saudi RRSEP. Covers dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and related processing disorders.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Arabic: اضطراب طيف التوحد (idtirab tayf al-tawahud) Commonly shortened in clinical settings to التوحد (al-tawahud). Recognized under RRSEP as a separate disability category.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Arabic: اضطراب نقص الانتباه مع فرط النشاط (idtirab naqss al-intibah ma' fart al-nashat) Sometimes referred to in schools using the English abbreviation directly.

Intellectual Disability Arabic: الإعاقة الذهنية (al-i'aqa al-dhihniyya) Includes what was previously termed mental retardation in older Arabic documentation. You may see either term in historical records.

Developmental Delay Arabic: التأخر النمائي (al-ta'akhkhur al-nima'i) Used primarily for children under age 6 where a specific diagnosis has not yet been established.

Hearing Impairment / Deafness Arabic: الإعاقة السمعية / الصمم (al-i'aqa al-sam'iyya / al-samam)

Visual Impairment / Blindness Arabic: الإعاقة البصرية / العمى (al-i'aqa al-basariyya / al-'ama)

Physical Disability Arabic: الإعاقة الجسدية (al-i'aqa al-jasadiyya)

Speech and Language Disorder Arabic: اضطراب النطق واللغة (idtirab al-nutq wa-al-lugha)

Evaluation and Assessment Terms

Psychoeducational Evaluation Arabic: التقييم النفسي التربوي (al-taqyim al-nafsi al-tarbawi) The comprehensive assessment combining cognitive, academic, and behavioral measures. International schools and private clinics use this term.

Multidisciplinary Team Arabic: الفريق متعدد التخصصات (al-fariq muta'addid al-takhassussat) The team that conducts evaluations and develops IEPs in public school settings.

Cognitive Assessment / Intelligence Testing Arabic: تقييم القدرات العقلية (taqyim al-qudrat al-'aqliyya) Refers to standardized IQ-type assessments such as the WISC-V.

Eligibility Determination Arabic: تحديد الأهلية (tahdid al-ahliyya) The formal decision about whether a student qualifies for special education services.

Accommodation and Support Terms

Accommodation Arabic: التسهيلات (al-tashilat) or التعديلات المعقولة (al-ta'dilat al-ma'qula) Adjustments that allow a student to access the curriculum without changing the content — extended time, preferential seating, oral testing.

Modification Arabic: التعديلات (al-ta'dilat) Changes to the curriculum content or expectations themselves.

Shadow Teacher / Personalized Learning Assistant (PLA) Arabic: المعلم المرافق (al-mu'allim al-murafiq) A 1:1 aide who accompanies a student in the classroom. Commonly required by international schools as a parent-funded condition of enrollment for children with more intensive needs.

Resource Room Arabic: غرفة المصادر (ghurfat al-masadir) A specialized pull-out setting within a mainstream school where students receive targeted support outside the general classroom. Common in Saudi public schools.

Speech-Language Therapy Arabic: علاج النطق واللغة (ilaj al-nutq wa-al-lugha)

Occupational Therapy (OT) Arabic: العلاج الوظيفي (al-ilaj al-wazifi)

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Arabic: تحليل السلوك التطبيقي (tahlil al-suluk al-tatbiqi) The intervention framework commonly used for autism. Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) are increasingly available in major Saudi cities.

Government and Rights Terms

Authority for the Care of Persons with Disabilities (APD) Arabic: هيئة رعاية الأشخاص ذوي الإعاقة The national body overseeing disability services. Expats with valid Iqama can register via the APD portal for non-financial benefits.

Iqama Arabic: إقامة (iqama) The residency permit required to access most government services as an expatriate.

Tawasul Arabic: تواصل The Ministry of Education's online portal for submitting complaints and inquiries. Translates literally as "communication."

Vision 2030 Arabic: رؤية 2030 (ru'ya 2030) Saudi Arabia's national modernization plan, which includes inclusive education and disability rights components.

Using This Glossary

Knowing these terms serves two purposes. First, it lets you follow conversations and documentation accurately. Second, it signals to school administrators and state officials that you are engaged with the system — which builds the kind of relationship-based credibility that produces better outcomes than formal legal pressure in this context.

The Saudi Arabia Special Education Blueprint includes an expanded terminology reference alongside practical guidance on evaluation rights, ILP negotiation, school selection, and private therapy coordination — the full operational toolkit for expat families navigating special education in the Kingdom.

See more Saudi Arabia guides →