Communicating with parents of children with special needs in Saudi Arabia: parents' and teachers' perceptions of using email for regular and ongoing communication

The purpose of this study, by Snaa Dubis from Salman Bin Abdu Aziz University, Saudi Arabia, and Robert Morris University, USA, and Carianne Bernadowski from Robert Morris University, was to investigate parents' and special education teachers' perceptions of using email as a component of parental involvement in the academic and/or behavioural performance at school of pupils with special needs. Survey research was utilised to measure parents' and teachers' perceptions of using email in Riyadh City in Saudi Arabia. The survey was distributed to 261 participants: 104 parents of preschool or primary school pupils with special needs and 157 special education teachers. The results indicated that in terms of attitudes and beliefs about using email, the majority of parents (78%, n = 81) and teachers (77%, n = 121) had a positive attitude toward using email to increase involvement and engagement between parents and teachers. Although email communication in the USA and Western Europe is quite widespread, the prospect of using technology for parental involvement is a new concept to many Saudi parents. Results indicate that both Saudi and non‐Saudi parents and teachers would be willing to use email as the primary tool for communication between home and school.