Domestic Violence affects everyone. Including the Deaf Community. Many times I think that we are aware of domestic violence yet we don't really consider who it may affect. From women: moms, daughters, aunts, girlfriends and grandmothers...no matter how your related to the abused/abuser your affected. From men: dads, brothers, uncles, guy friends and grandpas...your all affected. Domestic Violence is not just physical...emotional DV can be even worse and much more hidden. The emotional wounds caused by DV are long lasting for everyone.
Now imagine being in a strange land and no one is like you. Nobody speaks your language, knows what you are feeling, what you think about day in and day out, what you enjoy in life....and one day you need help. Desperate help and you have no one to turn to. No one to understand what you are trying to say, how much pain you are in. I am in no way saying the deaf community is completely alone but in many ways they are very much separated. The community organizations in the world are geared mainly for the hearing. In WA State we have only one DV shelter for deaf women: Abused Deaf Women's Advocacy Services ADWAS. And thank God we do but I really believe there needs to be more access for our deaf women and children of domestic violence.
On Facebook I am part of an organization in CA called DeafHope They are there to bring awareness of abused deaf women. Something that I am very passionate about. Please take a look at their organization and just learn if nothing else. Pass on the information to others you know who would be interested. DV discriminates against NOBODY! Please be a voice in this cause and not just an observer.
Please let me know of other organizations that work w/ deaf women of DV.
God Bless,
Colleen T
Revision: Links to ADWAS and DeafHope were updated to correctly correlate to each organizations Face Book Pages.
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