DV Awareness Scholarship in Memory of Teresa Cox, Rhonda Cox and Jimmie Neal

I was twenty-one when I received a phone call from my best friend to come and pick her up, as she simply could not deal with her abusive partner any longer. When I did arrive at her house, I discovered she had been badly beaten. My best friend is a Deaf woman. The Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) communities are at a higher risk for domestic violence, and she is just one example of many who have not been able to escape their situations. This night began a long process of helping my friend leave this relationship, pack her things, file a police report with law enforcement and overall do what needed to be done for her safety and well-being. The one thing that I realized from this experience is that it is far too difficult for the DHH communities to get the help they need to leave potentially dangerous situations. Often, especially if they are in a relationship with a partner who is hearing, they will be ignored by law enforcement when calling for help. Most of the time, they are not provided with language or cultural accommodations, meaning they are kept silent while their partner has every opportunity to explain the situation and assure everyone that they are just fine. I know this to be a common occurrence because this was my friend's experience. When it came time to apply for Master's programs, I knew one thing to be true: I wanted to help DHH victims of domestic violence. I wanted to be there to provide them with the cultural and language accommodations they need, I wanted to help them leave their situation if that's what they wish and I wanted to help them get back on their feet. I wanted to be there when and if they decided to involve law enforcement. I just wanted to be there for them. I applied to Gallaudet University, a school for the DHH community. I am currently wrapping up my first year in their social work program, and I have learned so much essential knowledge I will need to carry me throughout my career. I have been able to apply some of this knowledge in my field placement/practicum. I work with youths who are experiencing housing instability and homelessness, many of who are victims of domestic violence themselves. While my position now is only to be a therapist, I am soon diving into the world of case management for a more hands-on approach. Throughout my career in social work for the DHH, I will provide stability to survivors of DV through a mental health counseling approach. I will also do advocacy work, and help those who have been kept silent in the past find the courage and the resources to speak up for themselves. I am not entirely sure of what the future holds for myself and my career, but I will make a difference, and that is a non-negotiable.