Emerging Themes on Factors Influencing Career and Employment Decisions: Voices of Individuals with Disabilities from Four Gulf Countries

Abstract

Understanding the range of factors influencing career and employment decisions of individuals with disabilities is crucial for policy makers, businesses, and other stakeholders to support and integrate individuals with disabilities in the economic and social capital of the Arab-Gulf. The purpose of this sttudy was to investigate the factors that influence individuals with disabilities in making decisions about their career and employment. We explore how Arab adults with disabilities explain their career and employment decisions experiences, challenges, and barriers. We interviewed 15 adults with disabilities from four Arab-Gulf countries: Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Our findings reveal eight factors that influence individuals with disabilities in their decision-making process about work and their future goals. Two distinct emerging themes were identified as influencing career and employment decisions for individuals with disabilities: individual attributes and environmental factors. Self-determination theory guided our analysis for this research study. The study provided in-depth understanding of the factors that impact employment persistence and individuals with disabilities in the Gulf region. The findings from this base-line study has implications for transition and self-determination. Thus, the study discusses ways to improve the quality of services and supports for individuals with disabilities in the Arab-Gulf and their families.

Types and Sources of Social Support Accessible to University Students with Disabilities in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Adequate social support must be accessible to university students with disabilities because it may significantly contribute to academics [32]. It has been observed that individuals, despite their disabilities, with university degrees have better prospects of employment and are able to live healthier and more productive lives than those without higher education [33].…”

Disability Research in Arab Countries: A Bibliometric Analysis

“…The low rates in Arab countries may be attributed to methodological issues in the data collection and the social stigma associated with disability (UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, 2018). Negative attitudes towards persons with disabilities are prevalent in the Arab region (Al-Hendawi et al, 2022). Persons with disabilities often face disadvantages in terms of education, health, employment, and their participation in political and public life (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia et al, 2023).…”