PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES AND SOCIO- ECONOMIC WELL-BEING IN GBOKO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated People Living with Disabilities (PLWDs) and their Socio-
economic Well-being with specific emphasis on the effect of Visual impairment on the Socio-
economic Wellbeing of PLWDs, and the influence of walking impairment on the Socio-economic
Wellbeing of PLWDs in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. The study adopted
Medical Model of Disability and Eugenics and the Social Model of Disability as its theoretical
framework. Cross-sectional survey design was adopted for the study, and the multistage sampling
technique was used to reach the respondents. Primary data was collected using questionnaires and
an interview guide. Data was processed and analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences
(SPSS) version 27. The results showed that 96.3% of the respondents agreed that people with partial
or complete loss of sight struggle to complete formal education, and that people with walking
disabilities face discrimination in social gatherings, 92.1% of respondents believe that having a
sight-related condition affects self-esteem. The study concludes that disabilities not only limit
access to education and employment opportunities but also intensify social exclusion for PLWDs
in Gboko Local Government Area. The study therefore recommends improved implementation of
existing laws that promote social inclusion, provision of adaptive learning materials in educational
institutions, creation of adaptive workspaces, and eradication of biases against disabled persons in
Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria.