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Breaking the Silence: Empowering Deaf and Hard of Hearing Survivors of Domestic Violence

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Religion, Disability, and Interpersonal Violence

Abstract

Domestic violence is a pervasive and destructive phenomenon that occurs frequently, especially among individuals with disabilities. The dynamics underlying violence between intimate partners include issues of power, oppression, and control. People with disabilities, including those who are Deaf and hard of hearing, are at higher risk for exploitation and physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. People who are Deaf and hard of hearing use American Sign Language and face multifaceted challenges. This chapter explores the intersectionality of disability, violence, and empowerment. The Deaf community, a unique cultural and linguistic group, must navigate hurdles that range from reporting abuse to authorities, to assessment of abuse, and to accessing services that are designed to meet their unique needs. Several barriers prevent Deaf and hard of hearing people from receiving treatment and support services. Empowerment of Deaf and hard of hearing individuals, both individually and collectively, can be an effective way of addressing the detrimental effects of domestic violence and creating opportunities for healing and growth.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Using a lowercase d refers to an individual who is deaf (i.e., has a hearing loss), but does not identify as a member of the cultural group. Using an uppercase D refers to an individual who is Deaf and identifies as a member of Deaf culture .

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Work, Gallaudet University, Washington, DC, USA

    Teresa Crowe PhD, LCSWC

Authors
  1. Teresa Crowe PhD, LCSWC
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Correspondence to Teresa Crowe PhD, LCSWC .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Bethel University, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

    Andy J. Johnson

  2. Department of Psychology, Bethel University, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

    J. Ruth Nelson

  3. Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Emily M. Lund

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Crowe, T. (2017). Breaking the Silence: Empowering Deaf and Hard of Hearing Survivors of Domestic Violence. In: Johnson, A., Nelson, J., Lund, E. (eds) Religion, Disability, and Interpersonal Violence. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56901-7_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56901-7_8

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-56900-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-56901-7

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