Spotlight on Agencies: Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services — ADWAS

In a world hesitant to recognize true heroes, and slow to justly award them, Marilyn J. Smith, Deaf Founder of ADWAS, trudges forward with her ideas and concepts into the 21st Century. Twelve years of diligence and planning earns her the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Victims of Crime. Funded by Federal grants, the ADWAS model was selected to train five cities across America to open up similar independent agencies. We’re told that representatives from Boston, Rochester, Austin, Minneapolis and San Francisco — twenty-two deaf women in all — convened in Seattle for a week-long intensive training program. Marilyn and her staff of 11 Board Members have attracted the attention of another five cities, eager to train and anxious to model their independent agency after the popular ADWAS.

ADWAS, opened in 1986 twelve years ago, is situated in King County, Western Washington, where faith, hope, and courage are given back to the survivors and victims of domestic violence and all other types of abuse. Acting on tugged heartstrings, and aware of the social injustices surrounding her, Marilyn was compelled to make a difference. She threw caution to the wind, and opened the doors twelve years ago.

Presently, when asked what she and her staff value most about ADWAS, she replies, “… we feel honored to witness the healing of others — and that is the reward we get from doing this work. I am constantly moved by the strength of many of the victims we see; their strength often gives fuel to my own.” Though we cannot interview the clients, as you may have guessed these victims of abuse are held in utmost secrecy and out of harm’s way, the numbers speak for themselves.

More than 10,000 people have benefited from ADWAS educational programs since opening the doors. 500+ victims of abuse have ADWAS to thank — and they do, as Marilyn reports a steady flow of notes and letters of appreciation, too numerous to mention.

ADWAS reports, “Family violence knows no social, ethnic, economic or religious barriers; it fails to discriminate by age, I.Q., or physical or sensory capacity. Professionals working with deaf people maintain that family abuse is at least as common in the Deaf Community as it is among the hearing. Deaf men as well as hearing men inflict violence against Deaf women. Some speculate that the rate of abuse among couples with only one Deaf partner may be greater because of their increased communication difficulties; however, because 85% of Deaf women are married to Deaf men, it can be assumed that a higher number of perpetrators of violence against Deaf women are themselves Deaf. Hearing abusers do belittle and manipulate Deaf partners on issues of deafness, language and accessibility.”

The ADWAS brochure boldly states, “Narrow conceptions of family and gender roles may contribute to the incidence of battering among the Deaf. ADWAS believes that a Deaf victim may feel more comfortable in an apartment alone than in a shelter with hearing women. In a shelter with hearing women, the Deaf victim may feel more isolated and return to the abusive relationship. In an apartment alone with advocate support, the Deaf woman does not feel as isolated.”

What else makes ADWAS so unique? How about its 24-hour support service group for the deaf, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing — a first in the U.S.! Their various educational support groups teach deaf teenagers to watch for the patterns that can lead to rape. Identifying sexual harassment, sexual coercion, and exploitive sexual activity among teens, they open major lines of communication. Victims are counseled and taught how to take control of their lives and have choices again.

Their positive Deaf Parenting Program offers a free 12-Week Parent Education & Support Group to discuss positive discipline techniques. Through their efforts, bridges are built between parent-child relationships. Other deaf parents of teens have a place to sort out the confusing advice about raising children. Targeting parental attention, the ADWAS brochures tell, “… parents and children learn the importance of establishing and maintaining family traditions.”

Where else that you know of is that taught, if it’s not taught at home? It boggles the mind to think what people did before the inception of ADWAS, or before these services became readily available and easily accessible to them. In an earlier interview, Marilyn proudly shared a recent note from a survivor: “Thank you, thank you, thank you! I couldn’t have done it without you!” A job well done, ADWAS!

Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services (ADWAS), 2627 Eastlake Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98102-3213. TDD: (206) 726-0093 or FAX (206) 726-0017.