September is Deaf Awareness Month, and our goal is to spread awareness about the services MSP offers to support Deaf and Hard of Hearing survivors in our community. Below is a Q & A with our Project Coordinator for the Linking Communities Collaboration, Jacqueline Mamorsky. Jacqueline is Deaf and her background ensures that MSP’s services are accessible and culturally appropriate for Deaf and Hard of Hearing survivors. MSP’s Senior Director of Residential and Outreach Services, Brintha Jeyalingam, has been a part of the collaboration since the beginning and stopped by to provide her insight too.
How did the Linking Communities Collaboration get its start and what were some of the milestones along the way?
Jacqueline: The Linking Communities Collaboration started in 2018 under the Office of Violence Against Women’s Training and Services to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities Grant program. We are collaborating with our two partners, New York School for the Deaf (NYSD) and New York-Presbyterian Westchester Behavioral Health Center’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program. Some of our milestones are that we were able to put ASL videos on our website to explain about our services. Another milestone is that we were working very close with NYSD to develop one of a kind healthy relationship workshop for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students aged 11 and up. We are excited to see more milestones in our future, where we are continuing our efforts to get barriers removed for Deaf individuals in our community!
Brintha: We developed staff training on the Foundations of Deaf Culture and Working with Deaf Survivors and delivered it to 50 staff this year. Jacqueline joined Non-profit Westchester’s Disabilities Affinity Group which addresses the gaps and needs of serving Westchester County’s disability community and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community.
What are the goals for the future of the program?
Jacqueline: We are looking forward to providing community trainings in Westchester County to increase awareness about Deaf community’s needs and issues faced by Deaf Survivors.
Brintha: We are also hoping to improve MSP’s policies and procedures on being a more inclusive and accessible organization for our clients and staff. In the next year we are planning to make changes to our physical office spaces and shelter so that survivors from the Deaf community and the disabilities community can feel more welcome and safe.
What actions can the community take to bring awareness and share the resources that MSP offers for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities?
Jacqueline: The community can take actions to ensure that their organizations are Deaf — friendly and knows that by adapting to accessibility tools, it would be a way to fill the gap between Deaf community and Hearing Community in Westchester County. The Deaf Community are used to having a lack of resources and/or lack of knowledge that there are resources for Deaf individuals in need. Sharing the resources that MSP offers for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities is so important, because they will know that they are seen by their own community in Westchester.
What is one thing you wish everyone knew about the program or the effects of domestic violence and human trafficking on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community?
Jacqueline: There is one thing I wish everyone knew; that there are different tactics used against Deaf Survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. These tactics look a little different than the tactics used in a Hearing relationship with an abuser. When you know these tactics, then I hope that the citizens would be able to help Deaf Survivors much more quickly.
Tactics used to control Deaf survivors include:
- Abusive partners often sign in an exaggerated manner or close to your face. They may also hit or destroy items or attempt to intimidate you by stomping their feet or striking walls or doors.
- They can be aware of a Deaf individual’s insecurities when it comes to ASL skills or communication abilities. They may try to exploit this fact by criticizing or insulting a Deaf person’s skills.
- If a Deaf individual is in a relationship with a hearing partner, they would prohibit their hearing children from using ASL or taking pride in Deaf Culture.
These are a few examples of what a Deaf survivor endures from their DV relationship with an abuser.
For more information about our Linking Communities Collaboration check out our website here.
If you think that you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or human trafficking, MSP is here to help. Our staff are trained to talk with Deaf individuals through VRS/VP. Contact us at:
- Text (914) 600-4208 Monday-Saturday 10AM-10PM
- Chat with us here Monday-Saturday 10AM-10PM
- 24/7 Hotline 800-298-7233 (SAFE)