Including the Excluded: Effects of Social Stigma on the Socio-Educational Development of Deaf Persons in Limbe City Council Area, South West Region, Cameroon

<em>This study based on the inclusion of Deaf persons in the mainstream investigated the effects of social stigma on the socio-educational development of Deaf Persons in Limbe City Area of the South West Region of Cameroon. The forms of stigma assessed were limited to: cultural beliefs and, labelling. The study made use of a correlation survey design. A sample of thirty-one Deaf persons, sixteenparents and thirty-one neighbours making a total of 78 participants were selected to take part in the study using the snowball sampling technique study. The instrument used to collect data was a questionnaire using Rensis Likert scale of measurement. Data collected were analyzed quantitatively with the use of frequency counting and advanced inferential tests like Chi-Square, Cox and Snell R Square. The explanatory power of the Integrated Value Mapping (IVM) comprising all the two predictors (cultural beliefs and labelling) summarized as social stigma was 96.9% and the variability explained was significant (P=0.000). It was therefore concluded that social stigma has an effect on the socio-educational development of Deaf person since the overall agreement was highly significant (P=0.000). It is recommended that special educators organize seminars or use mass media to educate the public on the need to change cultural beliefs as a means to include Deaf persons in the mainstream society. The government needs to declare sign language compulsory to all citizens so that Deaf persons can have a sense of belonging and maximally socialize wherever they find themselves. This will enable Deaf persons to feel loved and thus cause them to contribute significantly to social progress.</em>