Deaf Alumni Sue Canada Deaf School for Physical/Sexual Abuses
Lawsuit claims widespread abuse of deaf students across Canada
excerpts:
Students at schools for the deaf across Canada were sexually and physically abused over a 41-year span, claims the first of what is expected to be several lawsuits against no less than eight provincial governments. A Saskatchewan law firm on Tuesday filed in Edmonton the first of what it said will be several claims against the provinces. The class action has been launched on behalf of more than 61,500 students who attended 12 such schools across the country
“Unfortunately, deaf children were ideal victims for this kind of abuse, imprisoned in a world with ineffectual communication and inadequate safeguards,” lawyer Tony Merchant said.
He said the plaintiffs were children who were “unable to communicate meaningfully because their keepers refused to allow them to use American Sign Language and had a high degree of control over these students”They were not permitted to return home to their families unless approved by ASD administration, which was granted only in extreme circumstances,” the claim said.
The court document said various students were subject to strapping, slapping, caning, choking, being hit with a wooden stick, hairbrush and wire hangar, having their ears pulled and being wakened by having pails of cold water dumped on them.
Numerous students were also allegedly victims of sexual abuse, including rape and being forced to remove their swimsuits during a camping trip and run around in a circle while teachers laughed at them.
To read the full article, click on http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=20e5e724-c522-49cd-bfcc-5c51ec504a7b&k=97248
More Media coverage:
Firm pushes ahead with class action for deaf students allegedly abused at schools
The male student, who attended the school from 1972 to 1982, claims he was subjected to repeated physical abuse including being strapped, slapped, caned, choked and hit with various objects.
Both female students say they were raped - one by a house parent and the other by an older student. The latter student claims that after one of the attacks, she became pregnant and had an abortion against her will. 680News - ALL NEWS RADIO.
Firm pushes ahead with class action for deaf students allegedly abused at schools In 2004, the British Columbia government reached a $15-million settlement with students of the Jericho Hill School who made similar claims of abuse. http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5j-y05rbMvNgWRIN4HRtHnD3V4AEg
Lawsuit alleges past abuse at Alberta School for the Deaf: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2008/03/11/deaf-schools.html
Commentary: This has been a painful subject many Deaf people are reluctant to look, preferring to protect their beloved schools by burying the dark history. Unfortunately, some of the schools were breeding grounds for pedophiles, attracted to the vulnerabilities of Deaf kids unable to communicate orally and forbidden to express themselves in sign language. The lack of close supervision by the residential houseparents also made the kids vulnerable to the abuses of the older kids. The infrequent visits to home, during holidays, compounded the problems as the kids weren’t able to communicate to their parents the abuses they experienced and the bond between the parents and the kids weakened due to long separations.
Some people may be outraged at those pressing lawsuits against their schools. However, if they don’t speak up, where is their justice? If they keep quiet, how can they heal? Worse of all, if they maintain their silence, the pedophiles are free to roam and victimize new kids.
email contact: mishkazena@aol.com
Lawsuit claims widespread abuse of deaf students across Canada
excerpts:
Students at schools for the deaf across Canada were sexually and physically abused over a 41-year span, claims the first of what is expected to be several lawsuits against no less than eight provincial governments. A Saskatchewan law firm on Tuesday filed in Edmonton the first of what it said will be several claims against the provinces. The class action has been launched on behalf of more than 61,500 students who attended 12 such schools across the country
“Unfortunately, deaf children were ideal victims for this kind of abuse, imprisoned in a world with ineffectual communication and inadequate safeguards,” lawyer Tony Merchant said.
He said the plaintiffs were children who were “unable to communicate meaningfully because their keepers refused to allow them to use American Sign Language and had a high degree of control over these students”They were not permitted to return home to their families unless approved by ASD administration, which was granted only in extreme circumstances,” the claim said.
The court document said various students were subject to strapping, slapping, caning, choking, being hit with a wooden stick, hairbrush and wire hangar, having their ears pulled and being wakened by having pails of cold water dumped on them.
Numerous students were also allegedly victims of sexual abuse, including rape and being forced to remove their swimsuits during a camping trip and run around in a circle while teachers laughed at them.
To read the full article, click on http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=20e5e724-c522-49cd-bfcc-5c51ec504a7b&k=97248
More Media coverage:
Firm pushes ahead with class action for deaf students allegedly abused at schools
The male student, who attended the school from 1972 to 1982, claims he was subjected to repeated physical abuse including being strapped, slapped, caned, choked and hit with various objects.
Both female students say they were raped - one by a house parent and the other by an older student. The latter student claims that after one of the attacks, she became pregnant and had an abortion against her will. 680News - ALL NEWS RADIO.
Firm pushes ahead with class action for deaf students allegedly abused at schools In 2004, the British Columbia government reached a $15-million settlement with students of the Jericho Hill School who made similar claims of abuse. http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5j-y05rbMvNgWRIN4HRtHnD3V4AEg
Lawsuit alleges past abuse at Alberta School for the Deaf: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2008/03/11/deaf-schools.html
Commentary: This has been a painful subject many Deaf people are reluctant to look, preferring to protect their beloved schools by burying the dark history. Unfortunately, some of the schools were breeding grounds for pedophiles, attracted to the vulnerabilities of Deaf kids unable to communicate orally and forbidden to express themselves in sign language. The lack of close supervision by the residential houseparents also made the kids vulnerable to the abuses of the older kids. The infrequent visits to home, during holidays, compounded the problems as the kids weren’t able to communicate to their parents the abuses they experienced and the bond between the parents and the kids weakened due to long separations.
Some people may be outraged at those pressing lawsuits against their schools. However, if they don’t speak up, where is their justice? If they keep quiet, how can they heal? Worse of all, if they maintain their silence, the pedophiles are free to roam and victimize new kids.
email contact: mishkazena@aol.com
March 12th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Canadians are now publicly addressing the problem of sexual abuse in schools for the deaf after many years of attempting to handle it privately. People have been quietly dismissed, families have been affected in ripples out from the schools, and yet the problem continues.
A search of the internet shows that Americans have not been exempt from this, either. We have seen schools closed due to this. We all know at least four or more people who have been fired from schools for the deaf for sexual misconduct.
Nowadays, many schools have a zero tolerance policy and teach abuse prevention and awareness to children as young as 7 years old. They are taught to “stop, think and tell” and not to keep “bad secrets”. It works very well when applied consistently and in an open atmosphere.
We need to listen closely to our children and be more involved with the people who contact them on a daily basis…even day schools and mainstream programs are not exempt from this problem.
Merely by being deaf, these children are seen as easy pickings for pedophiles and older previously victimized children. Those that know their communication may be limited, have even easier pickings.
March 12th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
It’s tragic and horrifying. I am glad those individuals have found the courage to come forward and take legal action. It’s the only way sexual and physical abuse will be stopped.
March 12th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
It’s really horrifying and unfortunate.
Here in USA, about ‘early ’70’s and earlier years some kids in some deaf schools, they had endured the physical abuses daily.
In my oral school, my husband and I had endured a series of physical and verbal abuses from the teachers and the houseparents daily as well as other kids. Occassionally, the houseparents would egg on us to pick on a target student and whatnot. However we don’t recall any sexual abuses from the staff but we recalled there were a few sexual abuses from the students to students. But the problem was there were no proof or they were afraid to tell due to possible reprisals. The abuses stopped in mid ’70’s but we sometimes got some verbal abuses which were far and few between though.
Misha
March 12th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
The lawsuits will lead Deaf people turn against each other in their communities where the schools are located because they are both abusers and victims who are living in the same communities vice versa.
I am saying it because it already happened in one of the cities in Canada several years ago.
March 12th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
I have no sympathy for the Deaf abusers. Deaf people who abused other Deaf people must be held accountable. Nobody has the right to victimize another person.
My sentiments: Kudos to the Deaf victims for standing up for their rights and demand justice.
March 12th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
As for the deaf vs the deaf as it relates to Canada and the current mess, , I believe Banjo will come along and give us some insight into that; I wish he’d also bring Henry Vlug along. I remember him as a really nice guy at Gallaudet a thousand years ago, lol…..
DT
March 12th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Wow! This is very interesting! Wish we could have done in the past years; however, the diocese ignores us constantly. Glad you makes anything possible! Smile
March 28th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I was 5 years old 1966 at deaf school in edmonton alberta till 1971 , my last name was “Harder” I am married last name mettimano now… I have problem from deaf school …. my bed wet , but my mermory no good , no remember what name of Lady long time … bed wet she checked on me and other girls too , get up and washed the sheet and blanket in morning midnight till one a.m. or two a.m I washed it one or two hours , made me tired , she was angry at us.. also other my long hair , i dont want that someone cut my hair , i ran to under the bed , she pull my toes to hall , my toes almost broke bone .. another spank at me too , soap in my mouth same as students too, another i have enough learn at school …. I wrote to my parent about it , teacher said no allow that letters to parents what i wrote about problem… hide and throw it in garage … bec i was not happy at school , in summer i come to home with my parent where they lived in High Level so far from school.. I talked them about school, no more go school , i was other school.. I was 11 years old , learning again grade 1 … not good learn from deaf school 1966 tp 1971… thanks susan
April 13th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Hi! I was from Ontario School for the Deaf, Belleville, Ontario, Canada. It was the history of Samuel Greene, the first deaf teacher in 1870’s. He used sign language to the deaf students that they loved him and understood his sign language well as good communciation but now there were hearing teachers and housemothers that were not using sign languages. What a shame! Also, pyscial abuses and sexual abuses too.