Entering the World of Deaf Survivors Julie Rems-Smario, MA, MS A nonprofit organization, established for and by Deaf women in January 2003 Our mission is to end domestic and sexual What Is DeafHope? violence against Deaf women and children through empowerment, education and services DeafHope’s Deaf Values  Deaf Centered  Stakeholders are Deaf community members  Everyone is fluent in American Sign Language  Culture model, not medical model  Future Deaf shelter/transitional home will be based on Deaf Space Architecture Violence Against Women Exists in All Cultures Violence against women is different in each culture based on the language and values of their people "Without a legitimately recognized language, there is no culture; Without a culture, there is no selfidentity; Without a self-identity, you just go on trying to be what others demand you to be." Lou Fant Deaf Community The Deaf community sees itself as a language and culture minority group, not a group of people with disabilities. • Medical model/Cultural model • Cultural Norms and Behavior • Deaf Education • Residential schools • Collectivism • Deaf clubs • Small community – Small Town Syndrome • Deaf Grapevine • Hierarchy of the Deaf Community Deaf of Deaf Grassroots Mainstream Hard of Hearing CODAs (Children of Deaf Adults) Audism • Discrimination or stereotypes against Deaf people • Judgment that a Deaf person is incapable • Cultural ways of hearing people are preferable or superior to those of Deaf culture • Belief that Deaf people are somehow less capable than hearing people Audists can be hearing or deaf Most of Deaf survivors experience audism in their hearing families Won’t seek help from the system because of years of audism and oppression Easier to stay with abusive Deaf batterer Audism Impacts Deaf Survivors Another Strike Against Deaf Survivors Revictimized by audism in the system: Law enforcement, courts, shelters, department of children and family services, counselors, etc. DEAFHOOD Deafhood is a process of self-liberation Deaf people re-evaluate their identity and liberate themselves from Audism The Deafhood Movement is parallel to the Feminist Movement Recommended Readings Women are 5 to 8 times more likely than men to experience domestic violence U.S. Department of Justice (1998) Deaf Women are at greater risk for fatality because of lack of resources, limited access, and audism DeafHope Domestic Violence in the Deaf Community The Deaf community has aspects of domestic violence often overlooked by law enforcement, medical professionals, etc. Deaf women have fewer options than hearing women for domestic violence services Examples of Domestic Violence in the Deaf Community Overuses floor stomping/pounding on table or door Signs very close to your face when angry Criticizes your ASL skills or communication style Makes you afraid with gestures, facial expressions, or exaggerated signs, then denies it by saying that is Deaf Culture to justify the behavior Examples of Abusing Hearing Privilege If you call the police, he interprets to manipulate the situation to his benefit He doesn’t allow your children to use ASL or talk with you He doesn’t allow your children to be proud of Deaf Culture He puts down your ASL He criticizes your speech and English skills He excludes you from important conversations Compounding Impact by the Abuser Society Bias/Audism Barriers Power and Control Tactics Disability Advocacy Project of the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence Deaf VICTIMS of Domestic Violence  Amber Burroughs Illionois  Kisha Sullivan New York  Christine Bronk Wisconsin  Tallie Marie Antolin South Carolina  Heather Villalba Maryland  Priscilla Vinci California  Penny Williams Utah Darlene Vandergliesen South Dakota LOST The survivor loses trust in herself after the trauma of domestic and/or sexual violence “I am so exhausted from trying to teach the hearing system about my access rights that I cannot focus on taking care of myself. I feel like giving up” --Deaf survivor Survivor’s Acts of Resistance • Network and Support • Autonomy • Safety Planning • Access Disability Advocacy Project of the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence DeafHope’s Empowerment Philosophy Only the survivor can make the choices towards rediscovering her own power Finding Hope DeafHope promotes an environment free of judgment, communication barriers, and fear, so healing can take place Deaf Survivor Centered Services Services created by Deaf women Peer advocacy from within Deaf culture & language changes from "us vs them" to "we" approach Deaf-run DV/SV Agencies  1980s Abused Deaf Women Advocacy Services (ADWAS) in Seattle, Washington  1998-2000 National training to 15 states by ADWAS  2003 DeafHope opened in California  2006 ADWAS opened first shelter/transitional homes  2007 Twenty Deaf-run agencies and programs throughout the country  2008 4th National Justice for Deaf Victims conference will be hosted in Vermont  2010 There will be approximately 40 Deaf DV/SV agencies Growing Awareness in the Deaf Community Access to training videos, websites, vlogs, blogs Visibility of Deaf advocates Focus groups and community events Advocates and Deaf Survivors We listen with our EYES without judging We ask in ASL what she wants We explain with our HANDS that it is not her fault We give her a VISUAL safety plan We work with her to CHANGE the system There is no US and THEM - always WE Are you ready for the growing field of Deaf DV/SV services? Hearing service providers can make the difference for safety in Deaf women in dv/sv situations. The Synergy of Partnership between Deaf Advocates and Hearing Allies Hearing ally is willing to work side-by-side with Deaf advocate with open mind and heart Deaf advocate plays the role of a cultural broker Deaf advocate strives to equalize power balance between survivor and system Deaf advocate provides resources for access Deaf survivors’ children are also survivors Don’t ask them to interpret Sign Language Interpreters The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 requires that Deaf individuals have equal access to public services. Service providers, courts, police departments and hospitals are required to provide reasonable accommodations to Deaf clients. A major part of reasonable accommodations is qualified sign language interpreters. Service providers must always ask the Deaf client what accommodations they will need. You get what you pay for with Interpreters The cost of qualified interpreters can be high – The cost of missed information, misunderstandings, and limited access is always higher. Certified Deaf Interpreters (CDIs)  Deaf interpreter certified by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf  Fluent in both English and American Sign Language  Has extensive knowledge and understanding of the Deaf community and Deaf culture  Used when the communication mode of a Deaf individual is so unique and cannot be adequately comprehended by hearing interpreters TTY VideoPhones and Video Relay Service (VRS)  The Deaf community has embraced new videophone technology.  This technology allows Deaf people to use their home computer or TV (depending on the system they use), a camera and a high speed internet connection to communicate using ASL.  Deaf users contact each other directly from one videophone to another. They see each other on their screen and can sign smoothly.  Deaf people can also use their videophone to access Video Relay Service (VRS) How VRS Works: Why Deaf People Prefer VRS  Deaf people can use their natural language (ASL) instead of written English.  Very beneficial to Deaf people who were born another country, have developmental delays, or did not receive equal access to education  Intonation and "personality" in the conversation is not lost  Calls through VRS are more natural For more information about VRS contact the following providers Hands On VRS www.hovrs.com Hawk Relay www.hawkrelay.com Sorenson VRS www.sorensonvrs.com Sprint VRS www.sprintvrs.com EXERCISE #1 WOMAN SILLY MOUTH WIDE MY FACE ME UNDERSTAND NO EXERCISE #2 Answer THE WOMAN WAS SCREAMING IN MY FACE. I DIDN’T UNDERSTAND HER “Don’ts”  Don’t ask the Deaf survivor to read lips  Don’t ask hearing children to interpret  Don’t rely only on fingerspelling to communicate  Don’t assume that writing is a reasonable way to communicate  Don’t use VRS to substitute for interpreting services  Don’t send her to shelter without access plans DO DO DO?  Do meet the survivor where she is  Do always ask what she needs  Do research for resources from local Deaf agencies and programs  Do make a Deaf advocate part of the team if requested by the Deaf  Do develop a list of ASL interpreting agencies in your area  Do install a videophone for VRS at your office  Do take classes to learn American Sign Language and understand more about Deaf culture  Do treat the Deaf survivor as an equal  Do become aware of audism  Do support the survivor’s decisions Planting one seed at a time brings an abundance of hope