SOCIO-CULTURAL SUPPORT SERVICES AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES IN ELGEYOMARAKWET COUNTY, KENYA.

KURUMEI WILLIAM AND TARUS PRISCA

Disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes the right of individuals to live independently and contribute to society, enjoy full inclusion in education as well as pursue meaningful career. Education is a social pillar which is a means of transiting to the future. It is in this regard that the study assessed the influence of socio-cultural support services on personal development of youth with disability in Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kenya. The objective of the study was to find out whether the socio-cultural support services influenced the personal development of youth with disability. The study was founded on Catherine Sanderson (2010) theory of social cultural perspective. According to Sanderson socio-cultural perspective is a theory to describe awareness of circumstances surrounding individuals and how their behaviours are affected by their surroundings including social and cultural factors. Descriptive survey design was adopted in the study. Mixed research surveys with both quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed in this study. The study targeted a population of 870, which was composed of 320 parents, 380 youth with disability and 20 government officers. Purposive sampling was used to select key informants who were government officers while simple random sampling was used to select parents and youth with disability. Data collection methods comprised questionnaire, interview schedule and observation checklist. To determine content validity of the instruments, the supervisors were presented with the research instruments prior to the actual study. Their comments were adopted in modifying the instruments. Reliability of the instruments was established through a pilot study. Quantitative data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, while qualitative data was analysed based on themes and sub-themes as they emerged. The study findings indicated that socio-cultural support services greatly influenced the personal development of the Youth with disability and may help in improving education policy with regard to people with disability