On 10th June 2022, staff at Deaf-initely Women met with a Member of Parliament, Pauline Latham, MP for Mid-Derbyshire to tell her about the difficulties that deaf women who live outside Derbyshire have in getting the support they need on abuse-related issues.

After a productive meeting, the MP will be inviting the Minister for Crime and Policing, Kit Malthouse MP, to visit Deaf-initely Women. She will also write to Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicola Jacobs, to highlight the severe shortage of specialist deaf refuges and will urge her to meet with us too.

Deaf-initely Women and Sign Health Charity are working together to improve deaf women’s access to abuse-related services including specialist refuges for deaf and deafblind women including women with hearing loss.

Pauline Latham, Member of Parliament for Mid Derbyshire said, “As a woman with recently acquired hearing loss, I really understand the struggles that deaf and hard of hearing women go through in being inclusive on day-to-day activities. I am aware that often they are dependent on their partners to meet their communication needs and in situations where they are denied communication from the outside world.”

Deborah Lush, one of the few Deaf Independent Domestic Violence Advocate and Independent Sexual Violence Advocate in the UK knows this too well, “Deaf female survivors need to be able to access abuse-related services. Whilst we are fortunate in Derby and Derbyshire, most of them outside ours area cannot access these services. They are often trapped in terrible circumstances and are often isolated. If their partner is abusive it makes it extremely difficult for them to be able to leave and find an inclusive refuge”.

Sarah Tupling who is Chair of Deaf-initely Women said, “It is time that deaf women are supported and be offered with choices of where they can go for support and live free from abuse. It is tragic to see our deaf female community who are frequently ignored and unsupported. Additional support from Crime and Policing would be most welcome to help us to make a huge difference in their lives, by being safe from harm”.

If you or someone you know have been abused, email deborah@deafinitelywomen.org.uk
Text: 07960 056746