DeafLEAD is a non-profit agency that provides advocacy, crisis intervention services, case management, counseling, free crisis interpreting and other direct victim services for Deaf, hard of hearing, DeafBlind, and late-deafened victims of crime, survivors and their families.
Videophone Hotline
DeafLEAD is now offering a 24/7/365 crisis videophone hotline for the Deaf community. Crisis line advocates fluent in sign language are trained to provide immediate emotional support, recognizing that trauma can have an ongoing impact on an individual’s life, regardless of when the event occurred. By providing the crisis line services in sign language directly through the videophone, Deaf individuals receive unprecedented access to immediate assistance and resources that are both culturally and linguistically accessible utilizing a trauma-informed approach. This crisis line focuses on meeting the needs of Deaf individuals who are victims of crime (past or present) including: domestic and sexual violence of adults or children, bullying (cyber, physical, or verbal), teen dating violence, burglary or robbery, child abuse or neglect, elder abuse, drunk driving or other vehicular victimization, human trafficking, any hate crime, identity theft or other financial crime, any form of mass violence, terrorism whether domestic or international, and a violation of a court order. Here is a link explaining the new Deaf Videophone Crisis Line.
Free Interpreting Services for Deaf Victims of Crime
DeafLEAD is now offering a 24/7/365 nationwide free sign language interpreting service for Deaf individuals who have been victims of crime, as well as for hearing service providers working with Deaf victims. The DeafLEAD crisis interpreters are CI/CT nationally certified with extensive training and experience working with Deaf victims of crime. To learn more about this service, please click here.