Herstory

In 1999, five Deaf women from the Washington, DC metropolitan area founded Deaf Abused Women's Network (DAWN) to end domestic violence and sexual violence in the Deaf community. In the Fall of 2003, DAWN officially opened its doors and made direct services available to the community. DAWN is the only organization in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area that provides direct services to Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence and stalking.

Our five founders whom DAWN will be forever indebted to:

Lucielle Dorsey

Laureen Lynch-Ryan

Ralena McDevitt (former Executive Director 2005-2007)

Sandy McLennon

Madeline Davis-Shelton