52 Deaf Alumni To Sue Deaf School For Physical and Sexual Abuses
“Former students at a school for the deaf in Saskatchewan were expected to file a class action lawsuit on Tuesday morning, alleging they were victims of physical and sexual abuse.
Regina lawyer Tony Merchant told CBC News on Monday that he represents 52 people who attended the government-run R.J.D. Williams Provincial School for the Deaf in Saskatoon.”
“The school opened in 1955 and operated until 1996, Merchant said. It was also a residence for students.
That made students vulnerable, Merchant said, and his clients say they were victims of sexual and physical assaults by employees of the school and other students.”
“Merchant predicted hundreds of other former students may yet join the class action claim” Lawsuit alleges abuse at former Saskatchewan school for the deaf
P.S. Two more articles surfaced this afternoon, with more disturbing news. According to the reports, students as young as five years old were sexually molested by older students in their late teens and early 20’s. When the victims tried to inform the staff of the abuses, they were allegedly punished for using sign language as back then the school was using oral method.
Deaf Students Allege Abuse | News Talk 650
The Canadian Press: Former students at Saskatchewan school for the deaf allege abuse, file lawsuit
Commentary: If the students were subjected to abuses, this legal action is long overdue. These students and other faced with the same treatment need validation and justice for what they may have endured growing up in the hands of certain people not fit to work with the children. The abused victims of the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf successfully won a lawsuit against the state responsible for the operations of this state school. The settlement included monies for the traumatized Deaf victims to seek counseling to heal from the abuses they experienced. Some alumni of the Boston School for the Deaf attempted a similar lawsuit, but it failed.
The era back then didn’t have the built-in safeguards and regulations to oversee the safety and welfare of the residential students. The current atmosphere is considerably different now with more training provided for the dorm workers, more vigilance by both the dorm staff and school staff, including administrators, mandatory screening of applications before employment.
An addendum: Finding out that these students were reportedly punished for using sign language to communicate to the staff their abuses left a sour taste in my mouth.
“Former students at a school for the deaf in Saskatchewan were expected to file a class action lawsuit on Tuesday morning, alleging they were victims of physical and sexual abuse.
Regina lawyer Tony Merchant told CBC News on Monday that he represents 52 people who attended the government-run R.J.D. Williams Provincial School for the Deaf in Saskatoon.”
“The school opened in 1955 and operated until 1996, Merchant said. It was also a residence for students.
That made students vulnerable, Merchant said, and his clients say they were victims of sexual and physical assaults by employees of the school and other students.”
“Merchant predicted hundreds of other former students may yet join the class action claim” Lawsuit alleges abuse at former Saskatchewan school for the deaf
P.S. Two more articles surfaced this afternoon, with more disturbing news. According to the reports, students as young as five years old were sexually molested by older students in their late teens and early 20’s. When the victims tried to inform the staff of the abuses, they were allegedly punished for using sign language as back then the school was using oral method.
Deaf Students Allege Abuse | News Talk 650
The Canadian Press: Former students at Saskatchewan school for the deaf allege abuse, file lawsuit
Commentary: If the students were subjected to abuses, this legal action is long overdue. These students and other faced with the same treatment need validation and justice for what they may have endured growing up in the hands of certain people not fit to work with the children. The abused victims of the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf successfully won a lawsuit against the state responsible for the operations of this state school. The settlement included monies for the traumatized Deaf victims to seek counseling to heal from the abuses they experienced. Some alumni of the Boston School for the Deaf attempted a similar lawsuit, but it failed.
The era back then didn’t have the built-in safeguards and regulations to oversee the safety and welfare of the residential students. The current atmosphere is considerably different now with more training provided for the dorm workers, more vigilance by both the dorm staff and school staff, including administrators, mandatory screening of applications before employment.
An addendum: Finding out that these students were reportedly punished for using sign language to communicate to the staff their abuses left a sour taste in my mouth.
March 10th, 2009 at 10:28 am
This is distressingly similar to past reports at other schools: the theme that sign language was not allowed or only introduced at older ages.
How are kids to tell what happened if difficulties are thrown in the way: having to orally form words which they may not even know? The very act of speaking might be associated with the teacher’s hands placed on the child’s face or stomach in repeating words.
A characteristic of ASL is the ability to point, mime or describe in the air what is happening even if one does not know the proper signs. Even a very small child can do it once he has grasped the power of ASL. An ASL-conversant adult can understand such early gestures and so can a MLS-trained interpreter. (MLS: minimal language skills)
March 10th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Diane, it gets worse, according to two newspaper articles that surfaced just now.
According to the reports, students as young as five years old were sexually molested by older students in their late teens and early 20’s. When the victims tried to inform the staff of the abuses, they were allegedly punished for using sign language as back then the school was using oral method.
March 10th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
MZ,
Reports like this are one reason many hearing parents don’t want to send their children away to Deaf schools. We had a similar situation here in this state with a Deaf school in Vancouver Washington that served both WA state students as well as Oregon. The abuse was rampant. Children who can’t communicate are vulnerable to abuse from school staff and other students.
I don’t believe all Deaf schools have this problem but any time young children are sent away to boarding schools away from family there’s a risk of abuse.
If I had a Deaf child I would never send him or her away to school. I rarely used babysitters for my hearing children while they grew up. Never day care centers. I just never trusted that other people would love my child as much as me, or have my childrens’ best interests at heart. Deaf children, like ALL children, need a loving stable environment to learn and grow. Love is more important than which way they communicate, though communication is by no means unimportant.
March 10th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Does Canada have a statute of limitations in regards to when the crimes took place? The statute of limitations in U.S. has deterred prosecution of some cases. May be different in Canada. A time period from 1955 to 1996 is a long time duration. Also, is this suit a criminal or civil suit? Sexual/physical abuse usually falls under criminal prosecution, but if a school is being held responsible for allowing such abuse to take place, would this be a criminal or civil suit?
I didn’t know that there is such a service as MLS interpretation. That is a new one to me.
Ann_C
March 10th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Kim,
I understand that Oregon in Salem and Washington in Vancouver area about a situation
The reason why I encouaged to former deaf students who attened the deaf school and should have reported to police department. One problem back in 1980’s dectivies often assume that student lied to their parents about sexual abuse and it was kind of neglected the deaf student who want to report. some of the deaf student doesn’t have a tty machine at their house.
Second things, that Police Dept often prefer to get interpreter by your own parents or siblings sister who is hearing. they don’t ordered to get provided ASL interpreter. It is their fault.
I show two dectives who was speechless I said you did not checked the records chart. How much I went to complained for 7 years, No one take serious with a serious sexual abuse. I show them .. Looking at business card I went and show the two detcevies.. I handle on business card on kitchen table. they stunned and dumbfounded. They say I have no idea why no chart of your name was not in the chart. ..they were not believe me. Why police Department of oregon wont admitted their mistaken. It is LAME OF EXCUSE! Due to American Disabities Act Law were failed recongized before 1990 it was passed the law. it was dectives are faulted. not me.
OSD staff accused me everything. I said I have a business card with me for more than 18+
Bull***t! I said to dectieves you think Deaf is STUPIDEST? They say aww.. umm.. I said well I did gave the dectives to reach to Cheemtakta Comm College in late Jan 1980. They should contact their phone number. they never did called and asking the person how to reach deaf service.
I moved away from Salem for a years and years. No one apologized ever since.
I mention to someone that I know it was dectives are faulted and neglected deaf who were screamed! I blame several staff from OSD were not handle their responsible.
So Teacher Standard of Commission did not full of admitting about protected for Salem Police Department and cover up that Dean of Student, Don Lorenzen have not removed his teacher licesnce card after discharged him from OSD who were serious neglected. Over a years ago Oregonian wrote about several teachers were suspened and some of jail who were served. but not Don Lorenzen’s case.
Salem Police Department were not want to admitted their mistaken for not chase Don Lorenzen.
March 10th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
The ordinary statue of limitations for criminal charges doesn’t apply to the childhood survivors of sexual abuses. For that particular group, they are afforded extended statue of limitation. One needs to check her/his state for this particular law and what it covers. With civil lawsuits, statue of limitations don’t apply.
With the states and schools, the laws are apparently different. Deliberate negligence of the organization’s legal responsibilities to oversee the children in its charge are protected.. I am not even sure if there is any statue of limitations in this area, but I don’t think so. Catholic Church have been successfully sued for its failure to protect the minors from systematic abuses by its priests and nuns. Native Americans successfully sued the boarding schools for horrific abuses and violations of their civil rights.
I am not familiar with Canada’s laws, either. It may be similar to USA.
March 10th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Kim, I understand your concerns. Many parents feel young children belong home with their families and also have the same reservations about potential physical and sexual abuses.
More and more families do relocate to the same cities, so their children attend the Deaf schools as Day students. I see that more often in the top performing Deaf schools.
March 10th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Deaf Pixie, I am sorry that the police had failed to do their duties when you filed a complaint of abuse to them in 1980. That was no excuse for that, not in 1980. In the earlier decades like 1930’s, 1940’s, and 1950’s when the police department were woefully ignorant about sexual abuses and physical abuses were tolerant, I can understand the failure of the police to pursue the complaints. But in 1980’s… absolutely no excuse for that.
Are you saying that the issues from the sexual abuses in these schools few years ago are still unresolved?
March 10th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Kim and MZ,
I forgot to say something in comment earlier. I did not know Don’s teacher license was not removed by Teacher Standard of Commission and was told that Don’s expiration date was over after against him by Salem Police Department and Teacher Standard of Commission. They failed to notifty me about his teacher license has not removed over 4 years later. That’s how Oregonian notity me. Now his licensce has not additional invalid for new replacement.
I was MAD From the begninning that I was betrayed one incident were not tell a truth for some reason after I learn that.
Seattle PI and Oregonian Newspaper now strong comment and cause Don’s embrassement and bad repuations.
March 10th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
For the benefit of today’s parents, it would be great to review the guidelines and safeguards that schools for the deaf have set up.
Changes such as zero tolerance policies, no, go, tell; early sex education and no-touch zones; role playing and bullying education all have been put into place today. There may be others that I am not aware of.
Shocking revelations of past abuse may not show the true state of education of deaf children today. I’d like to see reports on how effective these changes have been.
March 10th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Dianerez, I remember that one deaf lady from Owttwa told me that Candadian deaf or hearing people can sue up to 40 years within lawsuit. Compare to USA they wont reopening.
Odd things, I was @#$!@! about Boy Scout and Catholic choir were victims and accused and blame over to who did to them were allow to sue to Preist with a 20 years or 50+ years ago.
It is not being fair for Deaf student were too late for up to 7 years. ADA say it is too late. That’s different!
You were right it should be Changes such as zero tolerance policies back in 50+ years ago! It is not being fair for deaf community failed and grasped of working for a nothing.. They think Deaf is too cheap! It’s kind of obnoxious and unbelieve how they treated deaf or more than other kind of disabities children became victims and think that they are worthless!
March 10th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Well, sex education isn’t really part of the education material. State made it impossible somewhat.
They offer group but won’t go into details so it is up to the parents to fill in the gap.
March 10th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Hi
(Although the statement of claim filed at Court of Queen’s Bench in Regina names only two individual plaintiffs, a total of 52 former students of the R.J.D. Williams School for the Deaf have already joined, according to prominent Regina lawyer Tony Merchant, whose firm is handling the case.)
You may want to know who are two individual plaintiffs.. my husband is one of two plaintiffs. …the CBC news ran a story including a photo of me and my husband on TV in Sask, Canada tonight after having an interview with the reporter on the phone.I will make a vlog and to explain what my husband went through, as you may need to understand how I also go through the suffers from the part of his past experiences. I stand up and support him all the way…He suffered from this school. I saw all the things which he dealt with the emotions -angers and bitters. He still needs help for a counselling.. who pays for the counselling costs? The GOVT have to pay for their counselling sessions. People have no idea how i go through wth him in his struggles.. it’s too painful to watch him! For your tip to know a fact: They didn’t call the police for the crimes which they know who commited, and even not provide counsellors for the students nor did he inform their parents. Wasted the years of his sufferings without the help. Th voices needed to be heard from the students who had no chance to express their feelings and to get help for their healings.
Lisa
March 10th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
MZ, OSD did fired two staff in the past after my case were closed and later on, it has resolved.
One problem that I feel misinformed by Teacher Standard Commission did not tell me that they never took Don’s Teacher License after published in 2001. Until Oregonian Newspaper found out and notifity me about Don’s licensce were expired after fired him and cannot hang out of OSD campus.
Late 2004, First things, I was angry at TSC, Teacher Standard Commission failed to notifity they told me they will take his licensce. Until someone told me that Don still visit in OSD campus because his wife was retired and still welcome their school. I was so mad and
Until around 2007 that’s how TSC did not tell me that they never took his license were passed expiration date were no longer. I thank Oregonian Newspaper did contacted me about less two years ago. I was stunned and feel betrayed by TSC were not tell me a truth. They cannot do anything about Don and Judith has been spent visited in OSD campus for any of event. it is not seem inapproiated to me.
That’s how Oregonian fianlly published less two years. It already published Don’s handwritten in Oregonian online. I feel better!
More embrassment him since it was already published.
Several incident at Other school and the teacher from public school they are worsen I read it. One of my friend’s daughter went the school in location. Teacher is really boil troubled and fired his job and then went to jail few years later he died in jail. I would love to send you I don’t remember where I put the newspaper of Oregonian in box. Very interesting about all of Oregonian they were investiaged long time and finally understand it need to improved in all of Oregon.
Now I moved on.. I know so many I go through hell I mentioned you after I wrote in your own blogs.
I really apprecticed of big debate about deaf school should be more safety than what I go through difficult time. I don’t want to dwell and need to move on.. Same time that I would love to educated young or teenager children. I taught my children about my bad experinced and explaination is clarifity that it is not acceptable of what police department and TSC did ignornaced.
One things, my children are now completed understood what I am tried to saved other deaf children are value their lives.
That’s how Oregonian found out TSPC did not revoked few teachers who were trouble. Other one case teacher went to Washington and molested to kids after he was no longer teacher in Oregon. How can he clever. The example of what the teacher can be more smart. It need to stop! The reason why TSPC failed and now wake up by me I was yelled at the dectives in first place. Business Card you can save it and proof from over 20 years ago. My older sister say “How can I be smart to keep save the business cards.” I show them.. They were shocked and stuck…
No records in my names in their file cabient. Surprised me! Same time, I don’t really want anyone abused anyone by Dectives.
Don’t need to bragged… One things something that they are disguested me alot of time and really cannot understand about situation.I hope Canada legal can be better?
52 deaf people still kind of lot to me!
Anywhere in US legal is unfair! It made me sad.
March 11th, 2009 at 1:13 am
{seesmic_video:{“url_thumbnail”:{“value”:”http://t.seesmic.com/thumbnail/qjVn77T2Xx_th1.jpg”}”title”:{“value”:” ”}”videoUri”:{“value”:”http://www.seesmic.com/video/u3B4Xp2Zra”}}}
March 11th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
deafmama, no sex education? Since some families don’t use ASL, they don’t communicate well with their kids. Isn’t the state aware of these communication barriers?
Are the kids taught about the good touches and bad touches?
March 11th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Deaf Pixie,
What a shame! The police didn’t do their job!
MZ– I think it may be easier to relocate in some states than others. In Washington state there is only one Deaf school that serves the entire state. It is about three hours away from the Seattle area, the main metro area of the state. My husband could not have found a good job in Vancouver, WA where the Deaf school is. It’s a very small town. I guess I feel glad we did not have Deaf children, because I could not have relocated there. Most likely we would have raised our children orally and mainstreamed them due to no other alternatives. There’s the ideal and the reality?
The reality is most employment opportunities are here in Seattle. What should be done is the Deaf school should relocate to a major metropolitan area of the state rather than expecting all parents of Deaf kids to relocate to where the school is.
March 11th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Dianrez,
I’m glad to hear of the new guidelines. Still we all know hearing children are occasionally abused in public school settings, where there are ‘guidelines’ up the ying-yang. At least a child who goes home each day can tell his/her parents if something’s wrong. If there’s a level of trust between parent and child, they can do something. Sadly I don’t think rules or guidelines prevent bad things from happening to children, as much as they allow prosecution to take place after the fact. I am not in favor of boarding schools for ANY children.
April 1st, 2009 at 11:56 am
This is a tough topic. From personal experience and observations–I think alot of sexual and physical abuse goes overlooked or ignored in Schools for the Deaf or boarding schools simply because the TEACHERS do not understand ASL well enough to really understand what Deaf students try to tell them.
I remember one situation, to give an example, where a student told a co-worker of mine that the xxxxxx at XSD had hit him. My co-worker thought he said “caught” (he actually said HIT) and nodded as if she thought he was silly for telling her that. She then asked him what he was caught doing. The student got confused and that’s when I stepped in and clarified. It made me wonder–what would have happened if I had not happened to be around?
By the way, XXX still works at XSD. He has been fired and reported to the police several times, but comes back every time because of legalese. XXXXXs unions are very strong and I believe that’s why some teachers/staff, such as xxx, who have sexually and physically abused students at XSD, still work there.
In fact, this is one of the reasons xxxxxx was fired from her job as superintendent of XSD. There were several instances of sexual and physical abuse that she swept under the rug. In her defense, she probably knew that the unions would back the teachers up and cause alot of trouble.
Neverthless, every one of us, administrator or teacher or citizen, needs to stand up and report any instance of sexual and/or physical abuse EVERY time.
(from MZ. I crossed out the names of the individuals and the specific school due to libelous concerns. If the commenter have proof, please contact MZ at mishkazena@aol.com, I agree that sexual and physical abuses must not be allowed in any schools.)