SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIONS AND IDENTITY MANIPULATIONS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN IKOT EKPENE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

This paper presents an examination of the social constructions and identity manipulations of persons with disabilities in rural communities within Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Phenomenology was adopted as a theoretical guide to properly situate the implications of social constructions of disability and identity manipulations of persons with disabilities in contemporary rural communities within the framework of the study. The study was limited to five (5) selected rural communities in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area (Utu Edem Usung, Uruk Uso, Abiakpo Ikot Essien, Mbiaso, and Ikot Abia Idem). The sample size was 80 participants who were persons with differet forms of disabilities and have been subjected to a series of inhumane treatments in the study area. The survey method with Rapid Individual Unstructured Interview (RIUI) and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) had been adopted and used. The data were analyzed using the qualitative approach. The results showed that persons with disabilities are being discriminated against more than persons without disabilities. The results also revealed significant research gaps and a lack of information that is easily accessible to the public. The core of this study is that a cost-effective strategy is needed to reach persons with disabilities in their communities. This approach makes use of existing community services and promotes inclusion rather than exclusion.