Womanspace was awarded a charitable grant from BlackRock for $5,000 supporting our Deaf Advocacy Project
July 29, 2015 — On Thursday, June 4th, Womanspace was awarded a charitable grant from BlackRock for $5,000 supporting our Deaf Advocacy Project. It is estimated that one in every four women are beaten and one in every five women are sexually assaulted in their lifetime. For the deaf and hard of hearing the ratios are even higher. Individuals that cannot communicate or do not understand the culture of deaf communities cause isolation, making it difficult for them to receive quick and effective help.
The Deaf Advocacy Project will train deaf advocates to respond to deaf victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The NJ Division of Deaf and Hard of Hearing has been supportive in providing American Sign Language interpreters however, the ability to continue to provide this service is limited and the associated costs for 80 hours of training, ongoing supervision and travel expenses. With the Womanspace Deaf Advocacy Project, following the completion of training our Deaf Advocates will have the ability to accompany the Deaf Victims to the police station, court, the hospital, or wherever the Victim needs support.
In partnership with the NJ Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the NJ Coalition for Battered Women, and the NJ Coalition Against Sexual Assault we are working to help give a voice to the hundreds and hundreds of victims who cannot be heard. The program is being piloted in Mercer County, New Jersey and hopefully with help from funders like BlackRock, it will be statewide in 2 years. If you are interested in making a donation to the Womanspace Deaf Advocacy Project, please visit our website: womanspace.org and click the “To donate to the Deaf Advocacy Project click here” to be directed to the gofundme.com page or make a donation to Womanspace and designate it to the Deaf Advocacy Program.
Womanspace, Inc. is a leading nonprofit agency in Mercer County, New Jersey, that provides a comprehensive array of services to individuals and families impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. We are dedicated to improving the quality of life for people of all genders and their families. Programs include crisis intervention, emergency shelter, counseling, court advocacy and housing services and so much more.
