Rape Crisis Center Bringing Awareness to Deaf Community

[Miss-Delectable]

Las Vegas Now | Rape Crisis Center Bringing Awareness to Deaf Community

Rape doesn't discriminate. In fact, the Rape Crisis Center is increasing its efforts to help the deaf and hard of hearing community when it comes to this crime. It's called Sign No to Rape.

The deaf and hard of hearing community are a group that often go unheard of when it comes to rape. We talked to a deaf victim who wants this to end.

Sign language is how Donna Gura communicates everyday. She's been deaf since she was born. But growing up deaf hasn't been her only challenge in life.

"I was in the back alley, he pushed me and raped me," she said.

In 1992 she was raped. She was attacked again four years ago. It was the second attack that made her finally speak out, "I kept thinking, ‘What would happen if someone else went through the same thing.'"

Sadly, many in the deaf and hard of hearing community are going through a rape or attack alone.

"Before reaching adulthood, 25-percent of females are said to sexually assaulted before reaching adulthood. For males, it's 10-percent. For the deaf community at a whole, it's 50-percent," said Alyson Shainker with the Rape Crisis Center.

Shainker is fluent in American Sign Language and says a work shop Thursday night will provide awareness for the deaf community.

"We know it's going on. It's just a matter of these people sweeping it under the rug, going home and taking a shower and forgetting it ever happened. We don't want that to happen," she said.

And neither does Gura, "I won't give up nope. Now if someone confronts me, I'm ready. I will attack them first."

[GarnetTigerMom]

I know it not easy for lot of women to report a rape. It take a strong woman to report a rape even if people don't want to believe it or make fun of her that ruins her repuation. Specically in the deaf community. It not as easy thing to do. But Hopefully some deaf women have the strong enough to stand up against the rapist. But have to remember that rapist sometimes get away with it because of the court system it not good enough to put them away. But I do hope the court system will improve their system to stop rapist hurting women and kids.