Chief Program Officer Cynthia Amodeo shares her thoughts on where we have been, and where we are going.

As we move into 2020, our team is both grateful and inspired by the fact that Barrier Free Living (BFL) is approaching our 40th year (2021) working with people with disabilities.

Under the guidance of our CEO/Founder Paul Feuerstein, BFL began as a small NYC store front with a big mission – to support individuals with disabilities who were being denied critical services and who deserved respect. These voices need to be heard now more then ever.

Over the years, we moved into working with survivors of domestic violence with disabilities at our three programs, Freedom House domestic violence shelter, Secret Garden, and Barrier Free Living Apartments.

This year, we have nearly 100 employees serving approximately 1,500 adults and children. Our teams provide counseling, case management, financial empowerment, and wellness programming.

However, BFL is more than just direct services. We support our participants, tenants and residents so they can reclaim their voice which someone may have shut down (view our BFLMinute Ebony Finds Safety & Hope At Freedom House here)

BFL has grown in so many ways, thanks to the support of our wonderful investors from the city, state, and federal government as well as an ever-growing roster of volunteers and champions (see our stories about supporters Youtube sensation Lucie Fink and Sophie Horrocks).

Currently, we have a small group of donors who give yearly and we are very grateful to them. These small investments have made big changes in people’s lives. Donors have helped buy plane tickets for survivors to move out of state and create new homes free of violence, purchase accessibility equipment such as a wheelchair that the abuser destroyed, and replace documents such as birth certificates and social security cards.

At Barrier Free Living we are always striving to do better. We are at a place where traditional city, state, and federal funds cover the day to day costs to run our programs but there is little room for program innovation and professional staff development which are key values of the organization and our mission.

As we look towards our future and continued growth, BFL is asking you think about financially investing in our cause and mission to help individuals with disabilities to live lives free of abuse and bias. This year we have a goal to raise $100,000 to support the people we serve with innovative programming and our staff in their professional growth.

To learn more about us, or how to support our mission visit out make a difference page here.

Contributor Sara Eldridge, LMSW, is the Assistant Program Director of Barrier Free Living’s Secret Garden domestic violence program. She is the host of Sit Down With Sara. 

The rapidly evolving situation with COVID-19 is increasing stress and anxiety for all of us.

Unfortunately, for people who are experiencing domestic violence (and have a disability), this crisis can be especially dangerous.

Shelters will remain open during this time, including Barrier Free Living’s Freedom House domestic violence shelter (take a virtual tour of Freedom House) or call (212) 400-6470.

Survivors can also call Barrier Free Living’s Secret Garden domestic violence program hotline from Monday-Friday 9am-5pm for assistance with safety planning, crisis counseling, and information about accessing resources at: Voice Hotline: 212-533-4358; Deaf Services: (646) 807-4013. You can also email: secretgarden@bflnyc.org

For victims who are already being isolated by their abusers, calls to practice “social distancing” and stay home as much as possible may further cut them off from sources of support.

With businesses closing and employees being placed on leave, victims are losing an avenue for economic independence. Children are home from school, increasing stress and possibly exposing children to domestic violence.

Victims with disabilities are more vulnerable to illness and may be more likely to stay with an abusive caretaker in the event they become sick. Survivors may also be afraid to go into shelter or stay with friends and family because of the risk of sharing or contracting illness.

It is important during this time of uncertainty that survivors develop safety plans and know what to do in case of an emergency.

Survivors should refill any prescriptions they or their children need before pharmacies are inundated or supplies are limited. They should identify friends or family who they can check in with regularly and, if necessary, stay with.

While a survivor may not be able to move out at this time, they can still leave the home for walks, which can be a good way to manage stress and take a break before a situation escalates. The city, state and federal governments are rapidly releasing new guidelines on accessing benefits and resources, so survivors should regularly check government websites.

During this time of uncertainty, it is extremely important that victims and survivors manage their stress levels as much as possible. BFL will be sharing wellness resources on our website, including yoga and meditation, so please keep an eye out for that.
Sara Eldridge, LMSW (Pronouns: She/Her/Hers)
Assistant Program Director
Secret Garden
Voice Hotline: (212) 533-4358 (Mon.-Fri. 9am-5pm)
Deaf Services: (646) 807-4013 (Mon.-Fri. 9am-5pm)
www.bflnyc.org

April was recognized as Financial Literacy Month in the U.S. and there were a roster of events shining a spotlight on the importance of economic and financial education.

Barrier Free Living’s programs (Secret Garden, Freedom House, BFL Apartments) offer a variety of financial literacy workshops and educational forums throughout the year for our tenants, residents and participants who are survivors of domestic violence with disabilities.

Our Freedom House domestic violence shelter works with The Shine Foundation, which holds regular financial literacy workshops for residents through the year (view a virtual tour of Freedom House here.)

The agency also launched a Financial Literacy Scholarship workshop in 2018 (funded by the Assurant Foundation) where tenants of our Barrier Free Living Apartment programs were able to pursue education and career scholarship funds after completing an 8-week intensive course (read more here).

This month’s special contributor Tina Tran (photo at bottom) shares her insights around domestic violence and debt below. Tina is the managing bankruptcy attorney at Upsolve. Upsolve is a legal aid non-profit that helps low income individuals and families file for bankruptcy free of cost.

Debt and domestic violence frequently go hand in hand. In an abusive or violent relationship, victims are coerced into incurring debt on the abuser’s behalf. Victims are put at risk for having credit card accounts opened in their name, and for being tricked into signing loan documents without their knowledge or consent.

What is Financial Abuse?

One common characteristic of a financially abusive partner is their desire to control the finances in a relationship. This is evidenced by the power they exert in efforts to coerce the other to quit their job, forcing them to make purchases without their consent, or deciding when and how the other can access ATM cards, credit cards, checkbooks, etc.

What are The Long-Term Effects?

A major consequence of this abusive behavior is a ruined credit rating. Low credit scores create barriers to obtaining housing, employment, and future credit. Domestic violence victims and survivors are so financially burdened that they are unable to become financially self-sufficient even after leaving an abusive relationship.

Many victims and survivors of domestic violence find themselves plagued with thousands of involuntary debts that they are unable to pay back. Few landlords will rent to a person with a low credit score. Similarly, employers now pull credit reports as part of the hiring process in addition to doing a background and criminal records check.

The ability to obtain future credit, purchase a home, or take out a loan becomes significantly more difficult with a low credit score. Bad credit not only prevents victims and survivors of domestic violence from being financially self-sufficient, but it also compromises their individual safety and the safety of their children.

It’s not difficult to understand why victims of domestic violence would return to an abusive relationship after an unsuccessful attempt to leave. Without the ability to obtain housing or employment, victims often feel that they are left with no other choice. Not to mention, they risk being sued by debt collectors who can garnish their wages once they DO find gainful employment.

Is There a Better Option?

Fortunately, there is. The United States Bankruptcy Code offers a way out for people struggling with overwhelming debt. Filing for bankruptcy continues to be stigmatized because of the misconception that petitioners and debtors are simply scam artists misusing the legal system. It’s not true.

While bankruptcy petitioners and debtors report having feelings of guilt and shame, the vast majority of people who file for bankruptcy do so in order to get a fresh start, or to free themselves of the financial burdens created by involuntary or coercive debt. Filing for bankruptcy is often the best option for people who have fallen on hard times due to illness, loss of employment, or divorce.

What are The Upsides to Filing for Bankruptcy?

 There are many benefits to filing for bankruptcy. One of the major benefits to filing for bankruptcy is the immediate relief you receive from all debt collection efforts, including the end of creditor calls and collection agency mail. All efforts to collect a debt from you stops as soon as you file for bankruptcy.

A second major benefit to bankruptcy is the wiping out of most types of debt. Debts that can be erased are debts from credit cards, medical bills, personal loans, lawsuits, and utility bills. Debts that cannot be erased are debts stemming from student loans, certain tax obligations, government penalties, child support and alimony payments.

Filing for bankruptcy can also improve your credit score if it’s already low. At the completion of your bankruptcy case, you will receive a discharge order erasing the debts that you owe. You’ll be given a chance to rebuild your credit once you receive your discharge order. One quick an easy way to do so is to obtain a secured credit card and to stick to your budget.

How Much Will It Cost Me?

There are a few different options you have when filing for bankruptcy. You can either file with a private attorney, a legal aid organization, or on your own. On average, private attorneys charge $2000 for their services. Legal aid organizations may also be able to fully represent you without requiring that you pay attorney fees. However, many legal aid organizations are only able to take on a limited number of cases due to the volume of requests they receive asking for help.

Filing on your own, or “pro se,” can be very intimidating and stressful. Thankfully, Upsolve exists. Upsolve is a non-profit organization that will help guide you through the process of filing bankruptcy on your own at no cost to you. If you have access to a computer or a phone, and a printer, filing for bankruptcy with the help of Upsolve’s guidance can be the most cost-effective way to file without sacrificing quality.

“I was in the hospital for a multiple sclerosis flare up. I had a week before I had to go home. My living situation was toxic. Mental and psychological abuse,” says Denise. “I was scared and my blood pressure was going up. An occupational therapist asked me about my blood pressure and she ended up telling me she had been an intern at (Barrier Free Living’s) Freedom House domestic violence shelter.”

( View a virtual tour film of Freedom House here.)

The therapist connected Denise to Freedom House, where she found safety and began to see her life choices going forward.

“It was awesome. Freedom House was the best experience to get me where I am today. I was being abused and didn’t know it. My social worker brought to my attention that when someone controls your money or your thoughts, that is abuse.”

During her stay at Freedom House, Denise attended domestic violence support groups and began to explore her options.

“I found my sanity, my emotional well-being and my self-esteem. I started caring for myself,” she says. “When I got to Freedom House I was a scared little mouse. When I left I was a lion.”

Denise attended the Shine Foundation’s financial empowerment workshops at Freedom House and learned about restoring good credit and creating a budget. Working with the Freedom House team, she was able to find her own apartment, and today is pursuing a Master’s degree in counseling.

After over a decade at Barrier Free Living’s Freedom House domestic violence shelter for people with disabilities,  Family Associate/Board of Education liaison Vangie Leon is still driven by the spirit of love and compassion that she discovered when she started the job.

We caught up with Vangie to talk about the work she does with children, the challenges she faces and the lessons she continues to learn.

BFL:

Tell us how you first became familiar with Freedom House, and what drew you to working here. Also, tell us a little bit about the work you do day to day.

Vangie:

I honestly did not know anything about Freedom House. I was comfortable and perfectly content working at another shelter. I was given a choice to provide educational services to the children at Freedom House along with two, and eventually three, other shelters without any co-worker support. I am fully persuaded, now more than ever, that God answered my prayer for guidance in this decision. Working at Freedom House has been one of my greatest blessings! Not only because of the lovely families I have met, assisted and learned from, but also the amazingly resilient staff. In the, almost 12 years, I have worked here, many have come and gone, but the same Spirit of Love and Compassion still dwells here!
My main duties, as a school liaison, are to assist parents with school enrollment and school safety transfers, as well as attendance monitoring and improvement. This entails a lot more than the previous simple sentence, especially because I provide these services, and more, for four shelters. So, please forgive me, past, present and future, if I zip by you with that, “I have to meet a new family in 5 minutes that is in a site it will take me 15 minutes to get to…” look. With all this, I love what I do, especially at Freedom House; and if I dare complain, please remind me of this love.

BFL:

Can you share a situation where you were really proud/happy with the work you were doing.

Vangie:

Even as I age, I love learning new lessons. Such was the case, when a mother’s pleading for her child to be enrolled in a small, exclusive school. (This child had below average grades and attendance.) I went against my usual instinct to find another school and advocated for this child to be enrolled in her mother’s school of choice. Against all odds, she was accepted! Not a proud moment, but a very humbling one.

This experience taught me not to be presumptuous, but to go the extra mile for all children, regardless of what their records show. I must add: NEVER underestimate the One who answers prayers, especially on behalf of others.

BFL:

What are some of the challenges you face and how do you work through these?

Vangie:

Every job has its challenges, and one of the most conflicting ones I have is staying true to my responsibility to assist in improving the attendance of students in temporary housing. Often times, attendance is not the priority of our families. When the parents explain all that they are facing: health issues, financial hardships, depression… it’s understandable that school attendance is not as important to them.

It may be a process to show attendance improvement, but first is making sure their basic needs are met. Thank God we work in community and it’s a matter of communicating with the social workers, childcare, OT… and helping them understand that in the long run, good attendance is very important to the academic success of every child.

BFL:

What have you learned most from working with the residents and young residents at Freedom House?

Vangie:

I have learned that people are truly fearfully and wonderfully made. There is such promise, purpose and possibility in ALL people! I read this quote recently: “The only disability in life is a bad attitude.” – Scott Hamilton. I’m not saying that this is the only disability, but it’s probably in the top three!

BFL:

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Vangie:

I use my allotted time to walk in freedom by learning from the One who has set me free. (My real answer is too long to write on this Spotlight article, but I welcome face to face conversations.)

Since 1990, Barrier Free Living’s community-based Secret Garden program has been working with survivors of domestic violence with disabilities providing counseling, support groups, occupational therapy and case management services.

During October’s Domestic Violence Awareness month, the team is busy with outreach, events and presentations. They also offer domestic violence related trainings year-round (view a short film about the trainings here). We touched based with the team, to take a closer look at what makes this dynamic program so unique and valuable.

What makes the Secret Garden unique?

“I think the dual focus on interpersonal violence and disability and how those two factors intersect with all of our clients’ various identities is so important. Many other agencies in NYC solely focus on intimate partner violence and do not uniquely consider situations through a disability lens.”

How does you team work together?

“We work together very close to make sure that our clients are getting the services they need. We usually check in with each other.”

“Collaboration is key to the success of our work and as a team.  Secret Garden staff communicates effectively to assist any client of the program. For example, as a Case Manager, I might become aware that my client is in need of counseling and thereafter, I would communicate the same to my supervisor who will then assign a Social Worker to start working with the client. Also, I am able to provide referrals to address clients’ concerns such as housing, counseling, legal services, financial assistance. As a team we work together to spread the word about Barrier Free Living and our specific services.”

“Our team works together by being extremely collaborative on shared clients. We are constantly checking in with each other and providing updates so the workers can be on the same page and present as a united front, especially to clients who may try to split. Additionally with our open door policy, even if workers do not share a client, we are all encouraged to draw from our colleague’s expertise and knowledge to best assist all clients.”

Can you share a success story?

“A client who was homeless came in for case management and counseling services. The case manager collaborated not only with the social worker but also reached out to (Barrier Free Livings’s) Freedom House (domestic violence shelter, view a virtual tour of Freedom House here) to secure her a spot in the shelter. In this way two programs were able to provide this client with services and a secure place.”

How do you grow and change as a team? 

“I believe being able to communicate, having a plan, knowing what the goal is, being able to delegate tasks, are what makes us grow and change as a team.”

“We grow through communication, staff meetings, informal and formal case conferencing, creating agency policies and procedures, and collaboration for clients.”

“Our staff meetings help us to grow and change as a team. That experience helps us to work closely and support each other, as we are going through a rough phase. Also, these meetings are very helpful for us to know what is going on with our team, clients and any news from outside organizations that would affect us.”

Deaf Awareness Month began in September 1958 as International Week of the Deaf, in commemoration of the first World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf.
Barrier Free Living (BFL) has a long history of working with Deaf and hard-of-hearing clients and residents at our three domestic violence programs (Secret Garden, Freedom House, BFL Apartments).

For many years, Freedom House had hearing social workers and case managers fluent in American Sign Language working with our deaf residents. As a hearing social worker I have always believed it is important to have Deaf and hard-of-hearing team members at our programs.

After convening a focus group with current and former Deaf and hard-of-hearing residents to assess their needs, Barrier Free Living applied for and received a grant to hire a Deaf social worker and case manager (read more about that initiative here).

Earlier this year, these staff members (Barrier Free Living’s Deaf Services Team) joined our existing Deaf social worker at Secret Garden to work with Deaf and hard-of-hearing clients and residents and to conduct outreach to the hearing and Deaf communities.

Increasing the number of Deaf staff is only the beginning of Barrier Free Living’s efforts to improve its competency in working with members of the Deaf community.

In September, the interpreting agency All Hands in Motion began providing ASL (American Sign Language) 101 classes to Freedom House staff. For six weeks, staff in all departments – including maintenance, child care, social work, and resident aides – learn basic signs so they can better communicate with Deaf and hard-of-hearing residents.

At the first session, staff learned how to finger-spell their names, count to 10 and sign colors. Barrier Free Living’s Secret Garden staff will participate in the next round of ASL 101 classes. BFL plans to offer intermediate and advanced classes for staff who would like to further develop their ASL skills.

Barrier Free Living has also spent several months training staff on Deaf culture and domestic violence.

Deaf survivors face unique barriers in escaping domestic violence situations, such as difficulty communicating with hearing police officers and advocates. (Barrier Free Living Deaf Services team member Nicolyn Plummer’s upcoming article in October will cover this in-depth.)

It is best practice to provide interpreters for Deaf survivors, but hearing providers sometimes inappropriately rely on hearing children to interpret or they rely on written communication. There is a long history of Deaf people being discriminated against and seen as less intelligent or capable than hearing individuals, which can lead Deaf survivors to distrust hearing service providers.
On the other hand, Deaf survivors sometimes value the knowledge and opinions of hearing individuals, including abusers, their own children and service providers, more than they value their own.

As a hearing staff member, I have learned how important it is to communicate with Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in a culturally appropriate way, including using ASL instead of written English and speaking directly to the Deaf survivor instead of the interpreter.

I have also become aware of the long history of discrimination Deaf individuals face and why it is so critical that service providers, especially those of us who are hearing, empower Deaf survivors to tell their own stories.

Barrier Free Living is committed to a “barrier free world… free from abuse and bias”. Becoming more culturally competent about the reality of Deaf experiences and enabling Deaf survivors to better communicate with hearing providers is a key component of this vision. Deaf Awareness Month is a great time to start learning ASL and getting informed about the uniqueness of Deaf culture.

Contributor Sara Eldridge, LMSW, is the Assisstant Director of Social Services at Barrier Free Living’s Freedom House domestic violence shelter.  Sara is a licensed social worker who received a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College in 2015.  Sara has been a social worker at Freedom House since 2015, where she provides individual and group counseling to adults, children and adolescents. Prior to Freedom House she worked with youth in alternatives to detention and incarceration programs, student veterans and crime victims.

Contributor Sara Eldridge, LMSW, is the Assisstant Director of Social Services at Barrier Free Living’s Freedom House domestic violence shelter.  Sara is a licensed social worker who received a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College in 2015.  Sara has been a social worker at Freedom House since 2015, where she provides individual and group counseling to adults, children and adolescents. Prior to Freedom House she worked with youth in alternatives to detention and incarceration programs, student veterans and crime victims.

Since opening in 2006 as one of the only domestic violence shelters in the nation fully equipped to serve survivors with disabilities and their families, Barrier Free Living’s Freedom House has made great strides in working with not only adults, but children of all ages.

(Take a brief virtual tour of freedom house here)

Domestic violence impacts the entire family unit. Children may witness the domestic violence or may directly experience abuse.

Moving into a domestic violence shelter can be very disruptive for children who must leave behind family, friends and school and move into a new location.

Their parents may lack the time and resources to provide the support they need, especially if they’re focusing on finding a new job, obtaining permanent housing, and attending court dates.

Children with disabilities face unique challenges in abruptly moving to a shelter, including loss of services or adaptive equipment. For autistic children or children with developmental disabilities the change in their routine and environment can be very upsetting and take some adjustment.

The Coordinator of Family Services at Freedom House, a licensed social worker, runs a weekly support group for children ages 7 to 12 called “Express Yourself”. The group focuses on artistic activities that help children explore their emotions, such as creating masks to represent different parts of their personality, creating anger maps of the ways they feel and act when they’re angry, and emotion thermometers to help measure their emotions.

The children have a safe space to share their feelings with each other and brainstorm more positive ways to deal with negative feelings.

Freedom House’s childcare program also offers a number of community building activities for children, including arts and crafts, cooking classes, movie nights and pajama parties. During the summer months childcare take field trips to the movies and host a family barbecue.

When there are older adolescents and teenagers at Freedom House, the social workers offer teen groups. These groups use art activities and roleplays to discuss identity, relationships, and their experiences of living in a domestic violence shelter. One group watched the popular film Twilight and discussed the themes of power and control they observed ..
Domestic violence can be very challenging for children and it can sometimes be difficult for them to relax and allow themselves to be children. Social and recreational activities with other children, facilitated by trauma-informed staff, are important in giving children an outlet for their emotions while also allowing them to have fun and to heal.

Contributor Sara Eldridge, LMSW, is a Senior Social Worker at Barrier Free Living’s Freedom House domestic violence shelter.  Sara is a licensed social worker who received a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College in 2015.  Sara has been a social worker at Freedom House since 2015, where she provides individual and group counseling to adults, children and adolescents. Prior to Freedom House she worked with youth in alternatives to detention and incarceration programs, student veterans and crime victims.

Approximately 1 in 10 Americans age 60 or older have experienced elder abuse. Most of the perpetrators are family members, but can also include caregivers such as home attendants or staff at nursing homes or assisted living facilities.

Freedom House domestic violence shelter welcomes survivors of elder abuse, whether the perpetrator is a spouse, child, sibling, or caregiver.

Freedom House Equipped To Work with Elder Abuse Survivors

When elder survivors arrive at Freedom House, staff meets with them to assess their needs. Our living spaces are fully accessible including bathrooms with guard rails and roll in showers. (View a virtual tour of Freedom House here).

The on-staff Freedom House nurse performs a health assessment and will refer the survivor to new medical providers if it is not safe to continue seeing their previous provider. The nurse will also coordinate visits from home attendants and nurses so the elder can continue receiving care while at the shelter.

The Freedom House occupational therapy team will meet with the elder to work on activities of daily living, such as setting medication reminders, keeping the unit clean, or using accessible transportation.

The entitlements worker will meet with the elder to assist him or her in accessing benefits. For example, the elder may need to remove his/her abuser as a social security payee or open a public assistance account. Because there may be legal complications, Freedom House can assist with finding a lawyer. Barrier Free Living recently partnered with Sanctuary for Families to offer monthly legal clinics connecting residents with attorneys.

The social worker provides trauma counseling and case management, helping the elder process their complex feelings of guilt, shame, anger or sadness regarding the abuse and connecting them to services. The social worker also facilitates domestic violence support groups.

What Is Elder Abuse?

Elder abuse includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as do other forms of domestic violence, but can also include neglect, deprivation and financial exploitation.

Neglect is a failure to provide an elder with necessities like food or medical treatment, while deprivation is actively denying an elder food, shelter, medication, or physical assistance.

Financial exploitation is withholding or misusing an elder’s financial resources, including through the power of attorney. Because many elders have physical or cognitive disabilities, they are uniquely vulnerable to these forms of abuse.

For example, an elder who is suffering from dementia may not realize he or she is granting a caregiver access to his or her financial resources. An elder who has mobility issues or chronic health problems may not be able to go to the doctor on his or her own or may need assistance monitoring his or her medication.

Many elders find it difficult to leave abusive relationships for a number of reasons. An elder who is being abused by a spouse or child may be reluctant to leave their loved ones and afraid of living on their own. If the abuser is a caregiver, the elder may worry about who will take care of them. When the abuser has power of attorney, the elder may require legal assistance to gain independence, which can be difficult or expensive to access. An elder with dementia may not realize that he or she is being abused.

A Freedom House Resident’s Story

One elder arrived at Freedom House after being verbally and physically assaulted by his son, who was living with him in a supportive housing facility.

A home attendant visited him several times a week, which Freedom House continued to facilitate. The social worker worked closely with the resident’s Adult Protective Services worker to ensure he continued to receive mental health, legal and other services. In addition, the social worker and housing team advocated for resident to be moved to a new, safe apartment at his supportive housing program. When the resident arrived, he was sad and angry about the situation with his son and reluctant to relocate. Over time, he began to process the abuse he experienced with his social worker and was willing to move somewhere safe with the assistance of the housing team.

In January 2004, the National Center for Victims of Crime launched National Stalking Awareness Month (NSAM) to increase the public’s understanding of the crime of stalking. Barrier Free Living team members Nicolyn Plummer and Michelle Reyes take a look at stalking as it relates to Deaf individuals.

Nicolyn Plummer is a senior social worker and coordinator of outreach and advocacy of the Deaf Services Initiative, in conjunction with Secret Garden and Freedom House to enhance accessibility in serving Deaf victims. Michelle Reyes is a Deaf Initiative Service Social Worker at Barrier Free Living’s Secret Garden’s non residential program and Freedom House’s domestic violence shelter. She provides individual and group counseling to adults, children and adolescents.

Stalking against Deaf individuals is underreported due to systemic barriers which include a lack of communication access and attitudinal barriers. Deaf individuals are often unable to provide accurate police reports due to a lack of interpreting services. The severity of their reports can therefore not be taken seriously.

Reports indicate that 25% of Deaf women are victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) (ADWAS, 1997), 50-83% of Deaf individuals experience sexual assault in their lifetime (Francavillo, 2009), and Deaf females are two times more likely to experience physical assault by their partner (Anderson, 2010).

Too often, Deaf victims suffer from the consequences of NOT being heard when reaching out to trusted persons, victim service providers, law enforcement and other justice system officials. Law enforcement and shelters are often not skilled at communicating with Deaf, DeafBlind or hard of hearing individuals and often don’t have interpreters.

Barrier Free Living’s  Secret Garden domestic violence program works with victims of domestic violence with disabilities. The Secret Garden team provides trauma-based therapy and case management services and the program offers participants full communication access to social workers and case managers that are fluent in American Sign Language.

Secret Garden also offers various groups that that allow victims to develop self-awareness.

As members of the Secret Garden team, we are accountable to serve and provide specialized services for victims with disabilities, and we assert that it is important for all providers to understand what stalking is and how it impacts Deaf victims.

Stalking is a pattern and repeated threatening or harassing behavior indirectly or directly; communicating a threat and/or a combination of experiences that produce fear in the victim. How common is stalking?

The stalking resources center reports that 61% of female victims and 44% of males victims have been stalked by someone they know-their intimate partner or acquaintance (Baum, 2009), 76% of intimate partner femicide victims have been stalked by their intimate partner ( McFarlane, 1999).

Also:

• One in four women and one in thirteen men will be victims of stalking in their lifetime.
• 61% of female victims and 44% of male victims are stalked by current or former intimate partner.

While specifics about stalking amongst the Deaf are lacking, Deaf victims are at risk for stalking and can be unaware it is a crime. The description of stalking against the Deaf victim is overlooked due to limited knowledge and a lack of available information.

Many Deaf individuals are unknowingly being stalked and do not recognize stalking behaviors. There are three kinds of stalking behaviors.

• Erotomanic stalkers: believe the victim is in love with them.
• Simple Obsession stalkers: victim and stalker know each other.
• Love Obsession Stalkers: fantasize about the victim.

Deaf victims often encounter three types of stalkers, and have been undermined by law enforcement and justice system officials when seeking a protective order against offenders.

Cyberstalking can be telecommunication-based harassment, monitoring video phone calls, using victim’s identity to purchase items, impersonating as adult protective service (APS).

It is important to be aware of your surroundings and recognize stalking behaviors:

• Follow and spy on you
• Monitor your movements at home and work, video calls, your texts, instant messages
• Receive unwanted calls at home and work
• Use global positioning system (GPS) to track your whereabouts
• Google online to get information using public record and contact your trusted friends, relatives, co-workers, neighbors about you
• Threaten to post your intimate photos online, spread faulty rumors on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
• Spoofing with unreal phone number and ID
• Put a “bug” in your phone
• Spyware
• Destruction of property

This is not an exhaustive list, but it is critical to devise a safety plan. Do not let system barriers prevent you from calling 911 as you know the situation better than anyone and trust your instincts.

• Change your routine and talk to trusted persons, advocates, counselors, alert the employers and security guards about your predicaments

• Obtain a restraining order from court and produce a copy with stalker’s photo to your supervisors, your counselors. Once the court issues a protective order against the perpetrator, you must carry it with you for 24/7 and provide a copy to your employers, counselors, advocates and landlords as well.

To live safely from stalking, it is important to write down the time, date, place, secure e-mails, video call messages, texts, letters, notes, photograph destructive of property stalker caused and ask witnesses to record any suspicious activities.

To find more information, please call Deaf Initiative Services at 646-350-2662.