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New domestic violence deaf group plans race | Fit For Life blog | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com
Two Indianapolis women have taken it upon themselves to become advocates for women in the deaf community who are victims of domestic violence.
Davina Brimmer and Laura Genrich-Perkins, both of whom are deaf, were chosen to receive training in 2009 at the Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services in Seattle, Wash. This organization, which has its own building, offers counseling, group discussions, day care, training and apartment housing to victims.
The hope was that the Indianapolis women would set up a similar non-profit organization in Indiana. Now, they’ve done that. It’s called the Indiana Deaf Unity Against Domestic Violence. The women say it’s the only organization focusing on domestic violence for the deaf community in Indiana.
Their kick-off fundraising event is the Indiana Deaf Community Against Domestic Violence 5K Walk/Run this Saturday starting at 9 a.m. at the Fall Creek Trails Greenway, East Fall Creek Parkway, North Drive (intersection of 56th and Emerson). They aren’t charging a registration fee, but hope that people will donate funds to their cause.
While I primarily write about being physically fit through physical activity and healthy diets, one’s mental fitness or state of mind is just as important. Keeping yourself mentally strong and having the ability to deal with domestic violence, if it occurs, is crucial. Those in the deaf community may not only have to deal with that, but also with a legal system not always equipped to deal with them.
Brimmer says the first step is educating deaf community members about domestic violence and that they can rely on the organization for help. Many in the deaf community are not aware of the legal system and don’t know where to go for help, adds Brimmer. What’s more, she says, interpreters aren’t available a lot of the time or the police, lawyers and hospitals don’t know how to handle them.
In her opinion, it comes down to money and agencies not being able to provide interpreters when they’re needed. Brimmer says it’s hard for victims in the deaf community to receive equal and accessible help from agencies and legal services designed for the hearing community.
She doesn’t know of any statistics about domestic violence in the deaf community, but she knows it exists. Part of the problem, too, is that members of the deaf community don’t often think that abuse can be verbal, mental or emotional — not just physical.
Brimmer, who is 29 and lives in Indianapolis, has been deaf since age 14. She went to Gallaudet University in Washington D.C., graduating in 2004 in family and child studies and got a graduate degree in social work. She spent four years working in the deaf mental illness area at Behavior Corp/Aspire Indiana and now is a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the state of Indiana.
Genrich-Perkins, who is 46 and lives in Indianapolis, also went to Gallaudet and received a bachelor’s degree in social work. She was born with German Rubella measles, which caused her deafness. She said they that during their recent intensive training, they were taught about the many facets of domestic violence, advocacy-based counseling, 24-hour response systems and community organizing.
They have big goals for their new organization — awareness, advocacy, statewide prevention/educational training, accessible services. They want to empower victims and survivors in the deaf community to take action and seek help.
Many groups are sponsoring runs/walks this fall to raise money for certain diseases and causes. It would be great if those in the hearing community would make the time to support this one, too.
For more information, Genrich-Perkins can be reached at genperk@gmail.com, and Brimmer can be reached at eaglesoars13@aol.com.
Two Indianapolis women have taken it upon themselves to become advocates for women in the deaf community who are victims of domestic violence.
Davina Brimmer and Laura Genrich-Perkins, both of whom are deaf, were chosen to receive training in 2009 at the Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services in Seattle, Wash. This organization, which has its own building, offers counseling, group discussions, day care, training and apartment housing to victims.
The hope was that the Indianapolis women would set up a similar non-profit organization in Indiana. Now, they’ve done that. It’s called the Indiana Deaf Unity Against Domestic Violence. The women say it’s the only organization focusing on domestic violence for the deaf community in Indiana.
Their kick-off fundraising event is the Indiana Deaf Community Against Domestic Violence 5K Walk/Run this Saturday starting at 9 a.m. at the Fall Creek Trails Greenway, East Fall Creek Parkway, North Drive (intersection of 56th and Emerson). They aren’t charging a registration fee, but hope that people will donate funds to their cause.
While I primarily write about being physically fit through physical activity and healthy diets, one’s mental fitness or state of mind is just as important. Keeping yourself mentally strong and having the ability to deal with domestic violence, if it occurs, is crucial. Those in the deaf community may not only have to deal with that, but also with a legal system not always equipped to deal with them.
Brimmer says the first step is educating deaf community members about domestic violence and that they can rely on the organization for help. Many in the deaf community are not aware of the legal system and don’t know where to go for help, adds Brimmer. What’s more, she says, interpreters aren’t available a lot of the time or the police, lawyers and hospitals don’t know how to handle them.
In her opinion, it comes down to money and agencies not being able to provide interpreters when they’re needed. Brimmer says it’s hard for victims in the deaf community to receive equal and accessible help from agencies and legal services designed for the hearing community.
She doesn’t know of any statistics about domestic violence in the deaf community, but she knows it exists. Part of the problem, too, is that members of the deaf community don’t often think that abuse can be verbal, mental or emotional — not just physical.
Brimmer, who is 29 and lives in Indianapolis, has been deaf since age 14. She went to Gallaudet University in Washington D.C., graduating in 2004 in family and child studies and got a graduate degree in social work. She spent four years working in the deaf mental illness area at Behavior Corp/Aspire Indiana and now is a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the state of Indiana.
Genrich-Perkins, who is 46 and lives in Indianapolis, also went to Gallaudet and received a bachelor’s degree in social work. She was born with German Rubella measles, which caused her deafness. She said they that during their recent intensive training, they were taught about the many facets of domestic violence, advocacy-based counseling, 24-hour response systems and community organizing.
They have big goals for their new organization — awareness, advocacy, statewide prevention/educational training, accessible services. They want to empower victims and survivors in the deaf community to take action and seek help.
Many groups are sponsoring runs/walks this fall to raise money for certain diseases and causes. It would be great if those in the hearing community would make the time to support this one, too.
For more information, Genrich-Perkins can be reached at genperk@gmail.com, and Brimmer can be reached at eaglesoars13@aol.com.