Hello All!
As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I am a Peer Educator at EKU-SAFE. Recently ouor website had been updated to include information for survivors of violence in the Deaf community. I would love for you to check out this site. My hope is that you will pass this along to others and help spread the word.
Last semester I went to a workshop that discussed the major issue of violence within the Deaf community and how this violence is really silenced withint the community. Until recently there hasn't been much dialogue about this issue but there have been major grassroot efforts to provide advocacy and protection for Deaf and hard of hearing survivors. Our goal at EKU- SAFE is to allow a space to for all people to have equal and open access to our services and to confront the issue of violence proactively. I think it is so important that all members of this campus feel like they have a safe place to go if they have experienced violence . Please check out our site. If you have any feedback or suggestions/info/ideas for how we could improve th site, we would love to know!
www.safe.eku.edu/survivors/DeafServices/
The statistics are terrible. It's depressing. It’s just awful that people have been oppressed for so long. I’m glad that people are speaking up more often now-a-days.
ReplyDeleteI work with KADB, Kentucky Association of the Deaf-Blind. We are working alongside the Helen Keller Association to get a new census for KY. It hasn’t been done since 1993. Our main goal this year is to raise public awareness and try to get our consumers more incorporated into the community. I talk to others about my job and what we do, it just amazes me that the majority of people I talk with have no idea that there are individuals who are deaf, blind, or both living amongst them. People only seem to know or even care when it directly affects themselves.
ReplyDeleteWHat I think is most sad about this is that too me the stats are almost not alarming anymore. Dont get me wrong I am not saying violence is ok and when should turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to it (no pun intended) but I am saying that these things happen so frequently it is almost the norm. And some of the stats are getting worse. Truly this is sad. We can make a difference though we just cant become apathetic or desensitized to these horrible realities. We have got to do something!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that these statistics are awful. I think that most people are at least partially desensitized to violence against anyone. How could they not be when they are constantly subjected to it in the media, in their community, and sadly for a lot of people in their own life?! Violence is heavily ingrained into our society and there is no way to start removing it without people speaking up and taking action.
ReplyDeleteThis is why I think it's so important to raise awareness and educate but not just stop with that. I really believe that if everyone starts to take responsiblity for themselves and also the collective whole that there can be a decrease in this violence. Being a positive bystander everyday is an excellent start to creating a safer community for all people. I know that may sound idealistic and I know that realistically we can't get all people to start caring and to step up. But if at least half of the people take action and speak up and out, then this is a really good start.
I think this also speaks volumes to the neccessity of resources available to indiviuals who have experienced violence. Resources are limited and the human working with these limited resources can feel drained quickly. Violence prevention is a hard battle to fight, especially when most people are dissensitized to the issue. If there were more funding and assitance to these resources, then there could be more people who are encouraged and educated to reduce violence and seek services when they are needed.
So, if you want to do something. Do it. I support and encourage any and all efforts you make. Get it girl!
"They say that times changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself."- Andy Warhol