A Deaf Mom and Two Kids Killed Near Gallaudet
How horrible. A Deaf woman and her two kids were killed, allegedly by her common law husband in Trinidad area, which borders the campus of Gallaudet University. The murders were suspected to result from domestic violence. I have no idea if the slain victim, Erika Peters, was an alumnus of Gallaudet or MSSD. Deaf Woman and Her Two Kids Killed in Trinidad Neighborhood | WUSA9.com | Washington, DC |
For a long time I have been covering the case of Tallie Antolin, killed by the hands of her former boyfriend, Chris Lambert. Both the victim and the murderer were well known in the Deaf circles as they both attended Gallaudet. The case finally ended last year with a plea bargain agreement, bringing a long-overdue closure to the grieving family and friends. Several months ago, I asked a family member of Tallie Antolin the best way to reach the audience about domestic violence and he said the education needs to start at the elementary schools. By the time the students were in junior and senior high school, it may be too late. Checking further, I discovered that domestic violence education wasn’t generally provided at the elementary schools.
Some time ago, I watched DeafHope’s “Till Domestic Violence Do Us Part’, a educational DVD, beautifully created by the talented Deaf filmmakers Wayne Betts and Chad Taylor. The DVD was narrated in ASL, using Deaf actors and actresses. The power-control wheel was thoroughly explored. Not only were the aspects of domestic violence explained : physical violence, sexual violence, economic abuse, and emotional abuse, but each aspect was also followed up by a brief skit expanding on the concept. These skits were both illuminating and powerful. You can still view the DVD shown free of charge. http://www.deaf-hope.org/seaofdreams/ I heartily recommend this DVD. DeafHope is still engaging in fundraising efforts to help support its current programs along with a new goal: a residential setting for the survivors of the domestic violence. Please help them accomplish these goals so the Deaf domestic survivors can get help and support in an ASL-rich atmosphere.
My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Erica Peters and her children
P.S. Libelous statements against agencies and personal attacks on specific individuals will not be published. This topic is about domestic violence. Only comments related to this topic will be published, so please stay with the topic. Thank you. MZ
How horrible. A Deaf woman and her two kids were killed, allegedly by her common law husband in Trinidad area, which borders the campus of Gallaudet University. The murders were suspected to result from domestic violence. I have no idea if the slain victim, Erika Peters, was an alumnus of Gallaudet or MSSD. Deaf Woman and Her Two Kids Killed in Trinidad Neighborhood | WUSA9.com | Washington, DC |
For a long time I have been covering the case of Tallie Antolin, killed by the hands of her former boyfriend, Chris Lambert. Both the victim and the murderer were well known in the Deaf circles as they both attended Gallaudet. The case finally ended last year with a plea bargain agreement, bringing a long-overdue closure to the grieving family and friends. Several months ago, I asked a family member of Tallie Antolin the best way to reach the audience about domestic violence and he said the education needs to start at the elementary schools. By the time the students were in junior and senior high school, it may be too late. Checking further, I discovered that domestic violence education wasn’t generally provided at the elementary schools.
Some time ago, I watched DeafHope’s “Till Domestic Violence Do Us Part’, a educational DVD, beautifully created by the talented Deaf filmmakers Wayne Betts and Chad Taylor. The DVD was narrated in ASL, using Deaf actors and actresses. The power-control wheel was thoroughly explored. Not only were the aspects of domestic violence explained : physical violence, sexual violence, economic abuse, and emotional abuse, but each aspect was also followed up by a brief skit expanding on the concept. These skits were both illuminating and powerful. You can still view the DVD shown free of charge. http://www.deaf-hope.org/seaofdreams/ I heartily recommend this DVD. DeafHope is still engaging in fundraising efforts to help support its current programs along with a new goal: a residential setting for the survivors of the domestic violence. Please help them accomplish these goals so the Deaf domestic survivors can get help and support in an ASL-rich atmosphere.
My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Erica Peters and her children
P.S. Libelous statements against agencies and personal attacks on specific individuals will not be published. This topic is about domestic violence. Only comments related to this topic will be published, so please stay with the topic. Thank you. MZ
March 23rd, 2009 at 9:28 am
I am curious to know why do you always encourage readers to give support to Deaf Hope organization while there are other organizations like in Seattle,WA,Texas,Utah and few other states. I do not understand some people like you always talk about Deaf Hope and ignore other organizations who help victims too. [contents deleted to inflammatory and libelous nature]
I feel that you are hurting other organizations by giving only praise to Deaf Hope. Let us not forget others who invest their time and energy on victims only.
March 23rd, 2009 at 9:38 am
Penny, thank you for sharing your concerns.
I’ve already covered the Deaf DV agency in Washington in a post not too long ago. I also covered DAWN some time ago. Later on, I did put a list of DV agencies, http://www.mishkazena.com/2007/03/15/another-deaf-person-faces-death-penalty/
I covered DeafHope as I promised them that I would review their DVD in this blog. I find this DVD outstanding and that Deaf Community needs to be aware of this educational program.
Overall I am not familiar with the other Deaf DV organizations, but I am more than happy to cover these agencies if they contact me at mishkazena@aol.com.
March 23rd, 2009 at 9:58 am
If people would like to talk to a Deaf DV advocate there is a national domestic violence hotline that answers calls from all over the United States.
ADWAS partners with NDVH to provide this national hotline service M-F 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Standard Time
To reach a Deaf DV Advocate 9am-5pm (PST), M-F
Videophone IP Address: 69.17.111.201
Email: adwas@ndvh.org
IM: ADWASHotline
Please note: The above hotline is closed 12 pm to 1 pm every day and as well as during major holidays).
To reach a hearing DV Advocates 24 hours
TTY: 1-800-787-3224.
March 23rd, 2009 at 10:05 am
I’m concerned about the apparent lack of attention towards the grassroots minority deaf in domestic violence. My purview of domestic violence is that affecting BOTH males and females.
It’s my observation grassroots minority deaf who are lifelong residents of DC and Baltimore are systematically ignored.
When I attended a pair of deaf schools in Maryland and D.C. before moving on elsewhere locally within the mainstream it’s not often I saw grassroots minority deaf alumni participating in community events.
Systematic neglect of the grassroots minority deaf is just an aspect as to why overall deaf communities isn’t progressing.
I tire of deaf communities taking one step forward only to take two steps backwards when such events like this happens and underlying issues like this are exposed. Please be inclusive.
March 23rd, 2009 at 10:18 am
Crystal, thank you so much for the contact information.
Robert, can you clarify? Systematically ignored by who?
March 23rd, 2009 at 10:24 am
This is absolutely heartbreaking. Unfortunately, DV is an issue that crosses all lines, boundaries, and backgrounds. Thank you for bringing attention to this and providing sources for help. I can easily understand why you would refer often to an organization you are familiar with and props to you for perhaps helping someone get help today they might not have received otherwise.
Any individual that doesn’t feel like YOU are supporting the causes THEY endorse should feel more than welcome to start their own grassroots movement, instead of getting nasty towards you. That doesn’t solve anything. A polite suggestion to you asking if you’d include a group that supports victims of domestic violence is different than having an attitude of disdain. We should all do our part to make this a better world to live in!
March 23rd, 2009 at 10:28 am
Mishhka Zena. You know how racism and prejudices are rampant not to mention favoritism. This is why minorities are systematically ignored. As far as my comment here is concerned systematic was a term used to describe the pecking orders in the deaf communities dictating priorities in concerns and, if any, proactive programming.
March 23rd, 2009 at 10:37 am
Robert, I am sorry to hear this as I wasn’t aware of this. A DV advocate informed me of a paper on this, which describes the plight http://www.deaf-hope.org/videos/domestic_violence2.pdf.
Robert, thank you so much for bringing this up as we all can be educated regarding the lack of services for the Deaf minority groups.
March 23rd, 2009 at 10:52 am
So sad Erica Peters and her kids’ life cut short in the hand of her common law husband. My heart goes out to her family and friends. It is very important to many of us to be aware of the Domestic Violence — especially in the Deaf Community. It is hard to get away from the abusers because it is a small community. We need to be educated and protected ourselves.
March 23rd, 2009 at 11:12 am
Play Video Comment
March 23rd, 2009 at 11:52 am
Yes, that’s a clear example of the plight you mentioned about.
What also needs to be looked at are males who are affected by DV. There are lots of males, regardless of sexual orientation, affected by DV initiated by their spouses, partners or girlfriends/boyfriends.
Applied equality in agency programming will bring about credibility to any agency charged with addressing issues of domestic violence.
March 23rd, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Robert — you are right.
March 24th, 2009 at 6:48 am
I didn’t know the victims, and I pray for comfort for kin and friends of the victims. One thing bothers me big time about the whole thing: WHY kill the children? They are innocent and not involved with whatever beef you may have with your significant other. I cannot wrap my brain around that.
Far too often nowadays, the children are killed in a domestic violence situation. It breaks my heart.
March 24th, 2009 at 10:41 am
First of all, I want to thank you, MZ and other deaf and hearing individuals to raise the awareness of domestic violence against deaf individuals so far.
I completely understand what Robert Alfred Hawkins meant by the systematic exclusiveness of deaf minority groups like deaf African Americans and Latinos and other ethnic and linguistic (deaf foreigners) minorities, etc.
How true about many organizations of the deaf rarely bother to give any damn about deaf minority groups, especially domestic violence and job counselings.
From my own personal experiences and observations of several organizations of the deaf often patronize and underserve the deaf minority groups within DC-Baltimore area.
Robert Alfred Hawkins raised good points about how other deaf groups often are overlooked like the deaf sexual minority, etc.
For example, I was a victim of domestic violence by former deaf housemate during the Gally years. Those deaf housemates expected me to be the typical gay male like tidying up the place for them, ex. cooking, dishwashing and sweeping and other household tasks all done by myself. I said “Whoa! Why should I do all the household chores, because of my sexual preference??” I simply refused to do their household chores or give the bath to someone’s deaf dog.
After several deaf housemates moved out due to the ongoing disputes between another deaf housemate. That remaining deaf housemate and I ended up living at that rental place.
The remaining deaf housemate expected me to be totally submissive because of my sexual preference. That deaf housemate himself strictly hetrosexual (straight) demanded that I do dishwashing of the mountain of soiled cooking wares which he recently done his own cooking. I simply told him that was not my own doing. Why should I do his dishwashing?
The deaf housemate said that I had to do the dishwashing, because I left the dirty glass in the first place. I drank tap water out of that glass in the early morning. I still don’t see why I have to do the dishwashing of his soiled cooking wares and utensils. He suddenly grabbed my neck and pushed his hand against the side of cheek via jaw. That deaf housemate techincally crooked my nice smile and caused the lifetime problems of TMJ (bruxism).
Guess what? The deaf housemate decided to teach me the lesson by calling the police on me. I really don’t know what he told the police about me.
The police officers showed up at the residence and noticed how odd for me being the perperator (bully) due to physical sizes. That deaf housemate was much bulker and bigger and taller than me. The deaf housemate told the police to arrest me for something I have not done anything unlawful or criminal. Unbelievable!
The very same deaf housemate left me mountain of unpaid utility bills which he called those companies to change the person responsible for billing purposes.
I left with credit history damage because of this deaf housemate.
How twisted mind of that deaf housemate demanded to see my private gential which he did walk around naked from time to time after married to someone female. I refused to give him any personal satisfication for physically abusing me and other things. Jeez!
I could understand what other victims of domestic violence could go through. Althought, I am a strong-willed and physically feasible person myself, but anyone could fall to the realms of domestic violence.
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
RLMDEAF blog
April 6th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
My daughter, soon to be 16, wants to go to to MSSD next year. She is currently at Austine but taking her classes with interpreters at the local public high school. The teachers are good and the academics are challenging. Unfortunately she has a tough social life with subtle bullying from some other deaf kids and being unable to communicate well with the hearing kids. I have heard varying comments about safety concerns at MSSD as well as issues about the social situation. Also I’m worried that her academic life will suffer without her parents around to make sure that the homework gets done right. What about the academic life there. So far, my experience has shown me that deaf schools have low expectations for their students and not too high standards for the work level of their teachers, both at Austine and ASD.
April 6th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Hi, hard of hearing mom. I am sorry to hear about the problems with the Deaf peers.
I dont know about nowadays but few years ago, MSSD had a program with the local private school so the top performing students would attend. MSSD had a high expectation of its students back then. You can call and inquire if they still provide this program.
I am not so sure about the status of the social climate at MSSD, though. Let me ask a friend whose sibling graduated from MSSD recently and I’ll get back to you on that aspect.
April 9th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
A hard of hearing parent,
You should try to talk with Domestic Violence about Austine School The Deaf student need to training to stop bullying each other deaf or your daughter.
Long time ago I had similar bullying from Salem Oregon. I complete understood your frustration about being not helpful with your daughter. I think you need to contact lawyer to resolved issues at Austine, before lawsuit is pretty very serious issues and report to newspaper. Something it need stop violence or bullying are consideration crime.
I am not quiet sure if it is worth try?
I hope MZ helping you out!