King Salman Center for Disability Research
A Saudi Arabian nonprofit organization that conducts and supports research intended to improve the lives of people with disabilities.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The King Salman Center for Disability Research (KSCDR) is a Riyadh-based Saudi Arabian nonprofit organization focused on disability research, evidence-based services, and practical interventions. The center studies disability across the life course and supports work intended to improve quality of life, strengthen inclusion, and reduce the effects of disability on individuals, families, and communities. Its scope includes laboratory and field research rather than a single clinical specialty, covering subjects such as visual impairment, speech impairment, autism, mental health, learning disabilities, and inherited metabolic and endocrine disorders. The organization was established in 1992 by Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. It was created to complement the Disabled Children Association, a service-oriented organization for children with disabilities in Saudi Arabia, by developing a research and knowledge base that could inform diagnosis, education, rehabilitation, accessibility, and public policy. The center was partially funded by Sheikh Hassan Enany. It is named in honor of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. One of KSCDR's most significant public-health initiatives has been its newborn-screening program. Launched in 2005 in partnership with Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, and hospitals affiliated with the Ministry of Health, the program screens newborns for 16 inherited metabolic and endocrine disorders. The program has averaged more than 170,000 screenings annually, making early identification and intervention a central part of the center's practical contribution to disability prevention and health management. The center has also promoted universal accessibility. In 2010 it published Universal Accessibility Guidelines as part of an effort to introduce and expand the accessibility concept in Saudi Arabia. Its education-related work includes training workshops for school teachers on recognizing and teaching students with learning disabilities. KSCDR has worked with the Center for Child Evaluation and Teaching in Kuwait, as well as Saudi and international specialists, on standardized Arabic assessment tools for learning disabilities. In 2012, it formed a partnership with McGraw-Hill Education Services to develop educational programs for students experiencing learning difficulties. Research remains the center's core activity. Its stated areas of interest include visual and speech impairment, autism, mental health, and other disability-related conditions. KSCDR also supports recognition and knowledge exchange through the King Salman Award for Disability Research, established in December 2010. The award covers health and medical sciences, pedagogical and educational sciences, and rehabilitative and social sciences. Nominations are accepted from relevant research organizations, scientific societies, agencies, academic departments, faculties, and universities rather than directly from individuals. The center has received international and regional recognition. In 2011 it received the European Union's Chaillot Award for work related to protecting the rights of people with disabilities. It was also identified as the recipient of the 2011–2012 Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for the Best Medical College, Institution, or Centre in the Arab World. Publicly documented executive leadership includes Sultan bin Turki Al Sedairy, who served from 2004 to 2019, and Ola Abusukkar, who served from 2019 to 2021. Information about subsequent leadership is not established in the supplied reference material.
History
The King Salman Center for Disability Research was founded in 1992 in Riyadh by Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Its creation complemented the Disabled Children Association, which provided direct services to children with disabilities. Whereas the association was service-oriented, the center was established to develop and fund research capable of improving diagnosis, education, rehabilitation, accessibility, and quality of life. Sheikh Hassan Enany provided partial funding. The institution was named in honor of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. KSCDR's work spans disability research across different ages and conditions. Its documented research interests include visual impairment, speech impairment, autism, mental health, and learning disabilities. The center's model combines research with implementation: it supports scientific work but also seeks outcomes that can be applied in schools, hospitals, public infrastructure, and community services. In 2005, KSCDR launched a newborn-screening program with Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, and hospitals affiliated with the Ministry of Health. The initiative screens newborns for 16 inherited metabolic and endocrine disorders. According to the available reference material, it has averaged more than 170,000 screenings annually. This program positioned the center within preventive medicine and early intervention, areas that can reduce the severity of some conditions through earlier identification and treatment. The center expanded its public-facing work in accessibility and education. In 2010 it published Universal Accessibility Guidelines to help introduce universal accessibility principles in Saudi Arabia. The same year, it established the King Salman Award for Disability Research. The award recognizes contributions in health and medical sciences, pedagogical and educational sciences, and rehabilitative and social sciences. Eligible nominations come from research organizations, scientific societies, agencies serving people with disabilities, academic departments, faculties, and universities; individual self-nominations are not accepted. Award recipients receive a certificate, an honorary medal, and a stated cash award of 500,000 Saudi riyals. KSCDR also provides school-based workshops that help teachers identify and teach students with learning disabilities. It has collaborated with the Center for Child Evaluation and Teaching in Kuwait and with local and international experts to develop standardized Arabic assessment tools. In 2012, its partnership with McGraw-Hill Education Services extended this work into educational-program development for students with learning difficulties. Recognition followed from both international and regional institutions. In 2011 the center received the European Union's Chaillot Award for work related to protecting the rights of people with disabilities. It was also recognized with the 2011–2012 Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for the Best Medical College, Institution, or Centre in the Arab World. The documented leadership record lists Sultan bin Turki Al Sedairy as chief executive from 2004 to 2019 and Ola Abusukkar as chief executive from 2019 to 2021. The supplied sources do not establish the center's leadership after 2021. The organization remains described as a Saudi nonprofit research center whose principal purpose is to turn disability research into practical improvements for people living with disabilities.
- 2012
McGraw-Hill Education Services partnership formed
[1]The partnership focused on educational programs for students with learning difficulties.
- 2011
European Union Chaillot Award received
[1]The center received the award for work concerning the rights of people with disabilities.
- 2011
Regional medical institution award received
[1]KSCDR received the 2011–2012 Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for the Best Medical College, Institution, or Centre in the Arab World.
- 2010
Universal Accessibility Guidelines published
[1]The center published guidelines intended to advance universal accessibility in Saudi Arabia.
- 2010
King Salman Award for Disability Research established
[1]KSCDR created an award covering medical, educational, rehabilitative, and social dimensions of disability research.
- 2005
Newborn Screening Program launched
[1]KSCDR began screening newborns for 16 inherited metabolic and endocrine disorders through partnerships with the Ministry of Health, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, and affiliated hospitals.
- 1992
Center founded
[1]Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud founded the center in Saudi Arabia to complement the service work of the Disabled Children Association.
Products and positioning
A Saudi nonprofit research and knowledge institution connecting disability science with public-health screening, inclusive education, accessibility, rehabilitation, and social policy.
Public-health screening · 2005
Newborn Screening Program
A national screening initiative launched in 2005 with Saudi health authorities and hospitals. It tests newborns for 16 inherited metabolic and endocrine disorders and is intended to support earlier diagnosis and intervention. The program has averaged more than 170,000 screenings annually according to the supplied reference material.
Accessibility standards · 2010
Universal Accessibility Guidelines
Guidelines published in 2010 to promote universal accessibility in Saudi Arabia. The initiative represents the center's effort to translate disability research and rights principles into more inclusive design and public practices.
Research award · 2010
King Salman Award for Disability Research
An award established in December 2010 to recognize significant contributions to disability research. It covers health and medical sciences, pedagogical and educational sciences, and rehabilitative and social sciences. Award materials include a certificate, honorary medal, and a stated cash prize.
Education and assessment · 2012
Learning-disability education and assessment programs
KSCDR provides teacher workshops on recognizing and teaching students with learning disabilities. It has also collaborated with Kuwaiti, Saudi, and international specialists on standardized Arabic assessment tools and partnered with McGraw-Hill Education Services on educational programs.
Marketing campaigns
- 2010Universal Accessibility campaign
Saudi Arabia
KSCDR promoted universal accessibility in Saudi Arabia and published guidelines intended to support the concept's adoption.
Outcome. The guidelines were published; broader implementation outcomes are not specified in the supplied sources.
- 2005Newborn Screening Program
Saudi Arabia
The center worked with national health institutions to screen newborns for inherited metabolic and endocrine disorders.
Outcome. The program reportedly averages more than 170,000 screenings annually.
Brand decisions
2012
Develop educational programs for learning difficultiesStrategyBackground
KSCDR's learning-disability work included teacher training and development of standardized Arabic assessment tools.
Action taken
The center formed a partnership with McGraw-Hill Education Services.
Aftermath
The partnership was intended to produce educational programs benefiting students with learning difficulties; later outcomes are not specified.
2010
Create the King Salman Award for Disability ResearchProduct launchBackground
KSCDR wanted to recognize research with meaningful effects on disability-related health, education, rehabilitation, and social outcomes.
Action taken
The center established an award with three disciplinary areas and institutional nomination rules.
Aftermath
Recipients are described as receiving a certificate, honorary medal, and 500,000 Saudi riyals.
Award amount. 500,000 Saudi riyals per awardee (Award terms described in the reference material; date of current applicability not confirmed)
2005
Expand into national newborn screeningStrategyBackground
The center sought to connect disability research with early diagnosis and preventive health care.
Action taken
It launched a screening program with the Ministry of Health, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, and affiliated hospitals.
Aftermath
The program has averaged more than 170,000 annual screenings, according to the supplied reference.
Sources2 sources
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