Vision

Deaf Abused Women’s Network envisions a diverse community whose members interact free of fear and violence in all aspects of their lives. In this community, each person has access to information and justice and the opportunity to embrace their own cultural values and world views. In the place of domestic violence and sexual assault, we see equitable and healthy relationships that support everyone’s pursuit of happiness.

Purpose

DAWN is a deaf community-based non-profit, 501 (C) (3) organization dedicated to educating about domestic violence and sexual assault (DV/SA).

We are advocates, domestic violence/sexual assault survivors, volunteers and leaders who share a common language, American Sign Language, and strive to end the cycle of DV/SA.

We serve Deaf, hard-of-hearing and Deaf/blind residents of the Washington, D.C metro area who experience DV or SA and their families by providing crisis intervention, advocacy, and resource referral. DAWN was established in 2003, growing out of the determination of Deaf women to address issues of DV/SA in the Deaf community.

DAWN is a Deaf-controlled organization. DAWN believes that Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf/blind people, as a community as well as individually, have a responsibility to be involved in order to decrease the incidence of these crimes in the Deaf community

Butterfly artwork with permission of Betty G. Miller  http://bettigee.purple-swirl.com