Deaf/Hard of Hearing

Understanding Violence in the Lives of Deaf People

Domestic and sexual violence impact members of the Deaf community at high rates. Yet, many service providers are not prepared to address the needs of this community. Specifically designed for …
Continue reading "Understanding Violence in...

<< Back

Understanding Violence in the Lives of Deaf People

Domestic and sexual violence impact members of the Deaf community at high rates. Yet, many service providers are not prepared to address the needs of this community. Specifically designed for professionals working in domestic violence and sexual assault programs, law enforcement, and healthcare settings, this webinar will provide invaluable insights into the unique challenges experienced by Deaf survivors and strategies for better serving this community.

Join us for this informative and engaging presentation by DeAnna Swope, Senior Program Associate from Activating Change, and Roberta Eaton, Executive Director of Deaf DAWN.
Informational Webinar – Sign Language Interpretation Service

Webinar for organizations interested in the Sign Language Interpreting Service for Deaf Victims. Attendees will receive updates on how to apply and important dates about the process. In addition, participants will be able to ask questions about participating in the...

<< Back

Informational Webinar – Sign Language Interpretation Service

Each year, Deaf survivors/victims – especially those from communities of color – experience significant and persistent communication, cultural and other barriers to accessing hearing victim services. One of the greatest factors contributing to these barriers is the lack of qualified, trauma-informed sign language interpretation available to Deaf survivors. The lack of sign language interpretation in victim services for Deaf Survivors is an ongoing barrier out there, and directly because of that deaf survivors are unable to access hearing programs and systems.

Activating Change’s initiative, Sign Language Interpreting Service for Deaf Victims, addresses this gap by providing qualified, trauma-informed remote sign language interpretation services – using safe and secure technology – free of charge to victim service providers serving Deaf victims of crime. At this webinar, AC staff – Esther Fass and Nancy Smith – will provide an overview of the project, how to apply, and important dates. In addition, participants will be able to ask questions about participating in the project.
Hearing Advocates in Deaf Justice: Reflections on Allyship

Join us to explore hearing allyship, guiding principles, and practical suggestions hearing advocates can take to support Deaf advocates and Deaf advocacy.

<< Back

Hearing Advocates in Deaf Justice: Reflections on Allyship

Nearly 71% of the United States does not have “for Deaf, by Deaf” advocacy services available to Deaf survivors of domestic and sexual violence and communication and cultural barriers commonly exist in hearing domestic and sexual violence programs for Deaf survivors. As a result, many Deaf survivors have nowhere to turn for help. To close these gaps, hearing allies must join with Deaf communities to advocate for change.

This webinar features two hearing allies who are working closely with and in Deaf communities – Amber Hodson, Empowerment Director at DeafHope and Nancy Smith, Executive Director of Activating Change – in conversation with Liam Esposito, a Deaf Project Director at Activating Change. We will explore their journeys toward allyship, including how they got started, the principles that guide their allyship, and practical suggestions other hearing advocates can take. Importantly, we will also discuss the importance of recognizing their own privilege and leveraging that privilege – which include access to information, funding, and connections to policymakers and funders – to support Deaf advocates and Deaf advocacy.

Join us for this conversation to get started on the path to allyship.
Supporting Black Deaf Survivors

Black deaf survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence often have to navigate a web of barriers to accessing healing services: programs designed to respond to domestic and sexual violence, for …
Continue reading "Supporting Black Deaf...

<< Back

Supporting Black Deaf Survivors

Black deaf survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence often have to navigate a web of barriers to accessing healing services: programs designed to respond to domestic and sexual violence, for instance, may not have the knowledge or resources to address the needs of Deaf survivors while Deaf programs may not have the knowledge or experience to address survivorship. However, the Deaf community has been working to address this gap in services by developing programs specifically at this intersection. This webinar featured one of those programs, DAWN, which was formed inn 1999 in the Washington metropolitan area and has been providing direct support services to women and their families in the Deaf community. Listen to a conversation between Roberta Eaton, DAWN’s Executive Director, and Raven Sutton, Senior Survivor Resource Specialist, as they discuss DAWN’s unique approach to meeting the needs of Black deaf survivors.
Sexual Violence in the Lives of Indigenous People with Disabilities

Nearly 3 million people in the United States identify as “American Indian or Alaskan Native” (2010 U.S. Census). Due to systemic and historical oppression, individuals within these communities experience high …
Continue reading "Sexual Violence in...

<< Back

Sexual Violence in the Lives of Indigenous People with Disabilities

Nearly 3 million people in the United States identify as “American Indian or Alaskan Native” (2010 U.S. Census). Due to systemic and historical oppression, individuals within these communities experience high rates of sexual assault and have high rates of disability. This webinar looked at Indigenous survivors of sexual assault who also have a disability and the unique barriers they encounter in their healing journey.
Promising Practices for Serving Domestic Violence Survivors with Disabilities

This webinar featured a panel of experts who explored the unique barriers that people with disabilities have to navigate when seeking healing and the strategies that advocates employ to proactively …
Continue reading "Promising Practices for...

<< Back

Promising Practices for Serving Domestic Violence Survivors with Disabilities

This webinar featured a panel of experts who explored the unique barriers that people with disabilities have to navigate when seeking healing and the strategies that advocates employ to proactively remove those barriers. Specifically, they explored the civil-legal needs of survivors with disabilities, the needs of survivors who acquire a disability through domestic violence, and the unique needs of Deaf survivors.
Ensuring an Accessible Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domestic Violence Awareness Month was established in October of 1987. Since then, across the country, domestic violence advocates have organized awareness-raising events in support of domestic violence survivors, to highlight …
Continue reading "Ensuring an Accessible...

<< Back

Ensuring an Accessible Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domestic Violence Awareness Month was established in October of 1987. Since then, across the country, domestic violence advocates have organized awareness-raising events in support of domestic violence survivors, to highlight the rates of domestic violence in their communities and to unite individuals and organizations working on these issues.

It is commonly reported that 25% of women in the general population experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Women with disabilities have a 40% greater chance of intimate partner violence than women without disabilities and in the Deaf community the rate is closer to 50%. With these increased rates the inclusion of people with disabilities in your domestic violence awareness month activities makes sense. Staff from Activating Change provided guidance on creating accessible social media, accessible websites, and accessible in-person events.
Centering Survivors with Disabilities in Your Organizational Policies

When survivors with disabilities and Deaf survivors engage with your victim service organization or disability program, they are necessarily engaging with the policies that guide the delivery of your services. …
Continue reading "Centering Survivors with...

<< Back

Centering Survivors with Disabilities in Your Organizational Policies

When survivors with disabilities and Deaf survivors engage with your victim service organization or disability program, they are necessarily engaging with the policies that guide the delivery of your services. Regardless of they type of organization, failure to account for the lived experiences of survivors with disabilities in your organizational polices results in delays in service provision, confusion among staff about what is allowed, safety concerns among survivors, the provision of inadequate or unsafe services, or the denial of services completely.

This two-part webinar series examined key policies that victim service and disability organizations should have in place to account for unique circumstances in the lives of survivors with disabilities, including personal care attendants, service animals and guardianship.
Training Slides “Service Animals, Assistance Animals, and Emotional Support Animals”

Bridging South Dakota Training to: Learn the about “service animals, assistance animals and emotional support animals.” Learn what questions we “can” and “cannot” ask. Learn how to prepare for the …
Continue reading "Training Slides “Service...
<< Back

Training Slides “Service Animals, Assistance Animals, and Emotional Support Animals”

Bridging South Dakota Training to:

Learn the about “service animals, assistance animals
and emotional support animals.”

Learn what questions we “can” and “cannot”
ask.

Learn how to prepare for the conversation.

Learn how to become comfortable with
the conversation.

Learn who you can contact for help.
Creating Language Access with Deaf Advocates: Partnering for Success

Conferences are a place where advocates and leaders in the anti-violence movement can learn more about trends and strategies as well as network with other colleagues. For Deaf advocates, there …
Continue reading "Creating Language Access...

<< Back

Creating Language Access with Deaf Advocates: Partnering for Success

Conferences are a place where advocates and leaders in the anti-violence movement can learn more about trends and strategies as well as network with other colleagues. For Deaf advocates, there are access considerations to ensure they can fully participate. This webinar discusses how staff from the Resource Sharing Project at the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault and the Center on Victimization and Safety at the Vera Institute of Justice partnered together during the Embracing Change & Growth Conference that took place in Chicago in March 2019.

Staff shared the approaches utilized to ensure full inclusiveness and language access for Deaf participants, including the provision of both hearing and Deaf American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters. They will share lessons learned from the from the conference, discuss what our partnership looked like, including what made it a successful partnership, and share recommendations for your future in-person event planning for access and inclusion. If you have always wondered about the successful ingredients for maximum language access for Deaf participants at your in-person events, this is the webinar for you!

Panelists included Cat Fribley, Kris Bein, and Valerie Davis from the Resource Sharing Project and Center on Victimization and Safety staff Raylene Lotz, Liam Esposito, and Nancy Smith, as well as American Sign Language Interpreter, Amber Hodson.