Abused Deaf Womens Advocacy Services

National deaf hotlinethe national deaf hotline received 2,431 contacts in 2024, including calls, emails and chats. The hotline team provided trauma-informed crisis intervention, safety planning, and emotional support to deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing survivors of abuse nationwide. The objective was to ensure immediate access to culturally and linguistically appropriate support. The long-term goal is to maintain and expand this national lifeline for survivors seeking safety and resources.

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Legal servicesin 2024, adwas strengthened access to legal advocacy by securing interpreters to provide sight translation for deaf, deafblind, and deafdisabled survivors. This allowed survivors to better understand legal documents and court processes, ensuring informed decision-making in critical situations. The objective was to reduce language and accessibility barriers within the legal system. The long-term goal is to build sustainable partnerships with interpreters and legal providers to ensure equal access to justice for all survivors served by adwas.

Outreach and preventionthe training and technical assistance (tta) team increased outreach efforts by offering trauma-informed training for interpreters, with 30 interpreters in attendance. The training was a significant success and strengthened the capacity of interpreters to support survivors of violence with cultural and linguistic sensitivity. Adwas also provided school-based outreach that reached approximately 50 students and 10 staff through presentations on healthy relationships and violence prevention. The objective was to strengthen professional and community understanding of trauma-informed practices. The long-term goal is to expand interpreter training and deepen partnerships with schools to foster safer and more supportive environments for deaf and deafblind youth.

National deaf hotlinethe national deaf hotline received 2,431 contacts in 2024, including calls, emails and chats. The hotline team provided trauma-informed crisis intervention, safety planning, and emotional support to deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing survivors of abuse nationwide. The objective was to ensure immediate access to culturally and linguistically appropriate support. The long-term goal is to maintain and expand this national lifeline for survivors seeking safety and resources.