Paul Redfern: It’s time to protect Deaf children from sexual abuse

Paul Redfern is a Deaf facilitator at the Truth Project, part of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. 

To see the press release about the Truth Project in BSL, click here.

I can only imagine how difficult it is for anyone who has been sexually abused as a child to decide to come forward as an adult and share their experience.

But for Deaf people, who don’t have the same networks and support services as the hearing, it must be so much harder. As someone who lives his life without access to mainstream services, I can understand what they go through.

That’s why I’m delighted the Truth Project, part of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, has launched a new service enabling Deaf people to share their experience through sign language, lip reading or in writing.

They can now make a vital contribution to the work of the Inquiry by sharing their experiences, and putting forward recommendations for change, in a supportive and confidential setting.

I first heard about the Truth Project last year while working at the British Deaf Association. A victim and survivor of child sexual abuse had approached us to complain that he had not had justice through the court system.

While doing some research, I came across the Truth Project and immediately asked why they weren’t making provisions for Deaf people whose first language is BSL.

I’ll be honest, after sending that email I didn’t expect anything to come of it. Deaf people are so often forgotten about when it comes to support services that I’ve grown used to it. Almost every time I’ve raised an issue in the past, nothing happens.

I was genuinely taken aback when the Truth Project presented me with this plan for Deaf victims and survivors and asked me to comment on it. That so rarely happens. In almost all spheres of life, Deaf people are either excluded or added as an afterthought. For once this wasn’t the case.

I then went one step further and joined the Truth Project as a facilitator because I knew that I could really make an impact.

In my opinion, this new service is so important for two reasons.

Firstly, it is time we recognised that child sexual abuse also affects Deaf people. There hasn’t been a lot of research in this area but it is clear that there are higher rates of abuse among Deaf children, who often don’t have a network they can disclose to.

Children may only have one or two adults that they can communicate with easily and those adults could be perpetrators.

The second reason is that by understanding the problem, we can work towards better protecting Deaf children in the future. At the Truth Project, Deaf survivors can put forward recommendations informed by their own experiences.

The Truth Project has already heard from some Deaf victims and survivors.

One, known as Veronica (not her real name) said that she was sexually abused at the children’s home where she grew up. She remembers crying because of the pain. She had a social worker who visited the home every six months, but couldn’t sign and would just mouth to her ‘Are you alright? I am going to a meeting about you’.

Over the last four decades, she has avoided any type of relationship but still gets flashbacks of the abuse she suffered. By sharing her experience through the Truth Project, she hopes to help children who are now suffering so that nobody else has to go through what she did. She also wants to see communication barriers removed for Deaf children and adults.

Veronica is not alone. We have a huge opportunity now to make a real difference and I am determined to ensure that we all – both hearing and Deaf – make the most of it.

A new dedicated web page for Deaf people is available, including videos in BSL and a link to Deaf health charity SignHealth who will support those considering taking part.

To share your experience with the Truth Project, visit www.iicsa.org.uk/victims-and-survivors/services-deaf-users or email contact@iicsa.org.uk.

Twitter: @InquiryCSA

Facebook: @TruthProjectCSA

LinkedIn: @InquiryCSA

Paul Redfern is a Deaf facilitator at the Truth Project, part of the Independent Inquiry into
Child Sexual Abuse