Deaf4Deaf

21/07/2025

In Solidarity with Survivors

In recent days, many brave individuals in the deaf and signing community have come forward to share their experiences of abuse. Speaking out is never easy — it takes immense courage, strength, and vulnerability. We honour those who have broken the silence.

We must be clear: believing victims is essential. On average, it takes 22 years for a survivor to speak out. That delay is often caused by fear, shame, community pressure, and a lack of safe spaces. When someone finally does speak — we must listen. We must not dismiss, minimise, or silence them.

Deaf4Deaf is once again offering trauma-informed therapeutic support in England, following the end of the NHS talking therapies contract previously held by SignHealth. From 2016 to 2021, we were one of the leading Deaf-led therapy services. While the system changed and impacted our work, we are now stepping forward again to meet the need — and regrowing our team with care and integrity.

We also continue to support Deaf people in Wales.

Please note: in England and elsewhere, access to counselling is often subject to Individual Funding Request (IFR) panels, making it a lengthy and complex process to get funding.

However, there are charities that may be able to help- see below in the resources section

This moment calls for accountability. It also calls for transformation. All Deaf organisations must urgently review and strengthen their safeguarding policies and procedures to ensure they are trauma-informed and survivor-centred.

Let this be more than a moment — let it be a turning point.
We stand with survivors. We will continue to listen, support, and take action to build a safer, more just Deaf and Signing community. Safer Signing Spaces for all.



Resources:
Abuse Support – Deaf-Friendly Contacts (UK)
⚠️ Important Note:
We recognise that not all services offer BSL access.
Some use text, email, or live chat, which can work better for Deaf people.
You can also ask for a BSL interpreter if needed.

🔴 In Danger Now?
Call 999 or use the Silent Solution:

Dial 999

When asked, press 55 (you don’t need to speak)

💬 1. The Deaf Health Charity SignHealth– Deaf Domestic Abuse Support
For: Deaf people facing domestic abuse

Text: 07970 350366

Email: da@signhealth.org.uk

Support in BSL and Deaf-aware therapists

Website: www.signhealth.org.uk

💬 2. Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline
For: Women needing help or safety

Live Chat (typing): nationaldahelpline.org.uk

BSL support: SignVideo for Refuge

Email: helpline@refuge.org.uk

Phone: 0808 2000 247 (24/7)

💬 3. Women's Aid
For: Women affected by abuse

Live Chat (text only): chat.womensaid.org.uk

Email: info@womensaid.org.uk

Info for Deaf clients: womensaid.org.uk/deaf-women

❗ No BSL chat, but Deaf-friendly options are available

💬 4. (LGBTQ+ Help)
For: LGBTQ+ people experiencing abuse or hate

Text: 07594 019983

Email: help@galop.org.uk

Web Chat: galop.org.uk/get-help

❗ BSL not always available – ask if needed

💬 5. NAPAC - The National Association for People Abused in Childhood NAPAC
For: Adults abused as children

Email: support@napac.org.uk

Helpline: 0808 801 0331

❗ No BSL, but Deaf clients can use email or ask for an interpreter

Website: napac.org.uk

💬 6. The Survivors Trust Survivors UK
For: Men, trans, non-binary survivors of sexual abuse

Text: Text “Survivors” to 82828

Email: info@survivorsuk.org

Web Chat: survivorsuk.org

❗ No BSL, but they try to support Deaf clients in other ways

💬 7.
For: Women and girls affected by rape/abuse

Live Chat (typing): rapecrisis.org.uk/livechat

Email: info@rapecrisis.org.uk

❗ Not BSL-accessible nationally – check your local centre

💬 8. (Crisis Text Line – Mental Health)
For: Anyone feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or in crisis

Text: SHOUT to 85258 (Free, 24/7)

✅ Deaf-friendly: text-only support

💬 9. Childline (for under 19s)
Text SHOUT: 85258

BSL video chat: childline.org.uk

Phone: 0800 1111

Chat (typing): via website

✅ Deaf-friendly and BSL available

21/07/2025

Hearing families should stop being told not to use sign language with their deaf children, deaf academic Dr Kate Rowley has said, with there being “no evidence” it impacts speech or literacy.

20/07/2025

NAPAC - The National Association for People Abused in Childhood
Please respond to our earlier question back on 7th October 2024 regarding adding BSL access for deaf survivors. You provide access for 100 languages but not BSL. Why?

It takes, on average, 22 years (or more) to tell someone about abuse. *That’s what we’ve learned from our support line.

Survivors often carry the weight of trauma in silence for decades - because of fear, shame, or not feeling believed.

At NAPAC, we listen. We believe. And we support survivors whenever they’re ready to talk, no matter how long ago the abuse happened.

📞 Call our free, confidential support line: 0808 801 0331
🌐 Learn more: napac.org.uk

03/07/2025

Too right.
Let’s not get “rubbed” out of history.
Keep expanding our presence as we exist. No more hidden histories. We are here & staying…

19/06/2025

Celebrate Windrush Day at Black Country Living Museum. Learn more about the history of Black British contributions to the Black Country.

19/06/2025

Update. New supervision group starting in September.

This will be online via Google meet (similar to zoom).

Facilitating reflective spaces for deaf & hearing Professionals who work with deaf people



Get in touch if you want to join a supervision/ development/reflective group I am putting together for deaf and hearing professionals.

The focus will be Supervision with an intersectional lens (Deaf lens included)

Get your name on the waitlist to start in September this year.

DM me the word Empowering Deaf Professionals: The Essence of Human Communication.

This will be with Victoria Nelson who is a registered UKCP psychotherapist. 17 years of experience working with individuals and groups.

Email Victoria.nelson@disabilityplus.co.uk

18/06/2025

How many of us went to boarding schools?

Deaf people were regularly sent to boarding or residential schools for years.

Boarding School Syndrome:
• The effects of “boarding school syndrome” in Deaf communities may be compounded by:
• Language deprivation (e.g., being punished for signing).
• Audism and discrimination.
• Emotional neglect and isolation from families.
• Historical abuse (there are documented cases of abuse in Deaf boarding schools).
• Some Deaf adults describe deep attachment wounds, dissociation, or identity confusion tied to these early school experiences.

We can use the ABCD format as a helpful mnemonic to summarise the core impacts often seen in individuals affected by Boarding School Syndrome — including Deaf people who attended residential schools.

A – Attachment Wounds
• Early separation from family, especially from emotionally available or signing parents.
• Loss of secure base, leading to difficulty with trust, intimacy, and belonging.
• For Deaf children: language deprivation could disrupt emotional development and communication.

⸻

B – Bereavement and Loss
• A deep, often unacknowledged grief from being taken away from home at a young age.
• Loss of cultural identity (for some oral Deaf schools: forced speech, punished for signing).
• Feelings of abandonment, even if not consciously remembered.

⸻

C – Coping Through Control or Compliance
• Development of defended self: appearing “fine” but emotionally numb or disconnected.
• Tendency toward perfectionism, overachievement, emotional repression, or hyper-independence.
• For Deaf individuals: pressure to “pass” in hearing spaces, comply with oralist expectations, or suppress Deaf identity.

⸻

D – Dissociation or Disempowerment
• Splitting off from feelings, detaching from parts of self (emotional dissociation).
• Feeling disempowered, voiceless, or unseen – particularly for Deaf pupils in institutions dominated by hearing staff.
• Internalised audism, shame, or confusion about identity.

Psychoanalyst and art therapist hailed for her bestselling 2015 book Boarding School Syndrome

18/06/2025

Why is political representation important?

Without Deaf representation, political systems risk perpetuating exclusion. With it, we move closer to justice, equality, and genuine democracy.

Inclusion matters.

18/06/2025

17/06/2025

We have an important update regarding funding for BSL and accessible counselling.

As many of you know, for the past few years, short-term BSL Talking therapies have been funded through a national contract between NHS England and The Deaf Health Charity SignHealth This contract has now come to an end.

This means we are pleased to announce that we can once again support you in making individual applications for funding for talking therapies and counselling in BSL, or in your preferred method of communication.

We want to be clear that we cannot guarantee the outcome of any funding application. The availability of funding can vary depending on your location. If you live in an area that does not currently support BSL therapies with us, we will let you know straight away.

Our commitment is to provide you with the best possible support and to ensure you have access to the mental health services you need.

If you would like to find out more or start an application, please get in touch with us.

Contact us: https://www.disabilityplus.co.uk/contact-form/

Self-Referral: https://disabilityplusforms.com/deaf-focused-referral/

Website: https://www.disabilityplus.co.uk/bsl-counselling-psychotherapy/

17/06/2025

Go gently, grow steadily ✨

16/06/2025

Love this!