Clarke School sends checks to Deaf survivors of abuse
Kim Rock, a former student at the Clarke School for the Deaf in Northampton, Massachusetts, told “The Daily Moth” that she received a letter from the Clarke School Board of Trustees with an apology and a check for her experiences of physical abuse. She said about 15 other alumni also got letters and checks two weeks ago.
The school hired a law firm to do an independent investigation on physical and sexual abuses during the 1950’s to the 1970’s and completed a report last year. Lawyers then reached out to alumni in later years, including Rock.
KIM ROCK:
The lawyers reached out to us and asked us if we’ve suffered physical and sexual abuse. Some of us said yes.
We filled out a form and I did as well then I sent the form back.
I don’t know how many people did, but those who filled out the form received a check.
There was no court proceedings or any trials since the lawyer said that what we said is considered valid proof.
Maybe it’s to shut us up or they recognized us. I don’t know, but it was related to only sexual and physical abuse.
ALEX:
Did you…
KIM:
It wasn’t focused on language deprivation.
ALEX:
Understood… these are separate things.
Did you have to sign a nondisclosure agreement to not discuss this? Were there terms listed before you could receive the money?
KIM:
There was nothing in the letter. The lawyer just told me they recognized that I was abused and apologized. That was it. And sent a check.
[Text: “… the Clarke Board… established a limited fund for those who were abused.”
“We, on behalf of the Board, sincerely apologize for any abuse you suffered while at Clarke.”
Mary Ellen Nevins and Theodore Mason]
ALEX:
How did you feel getting that? What were your thoughts and reaction to that?
KIM:
I had mixed feelings.
First of all, the amount of money awarded to me was small, but I was satisfied.
I thought there should have been more, but then again, I thought it was fair for based on my personal experiences with physical abuse.
When it comes to language deprivation, I consider that (abuse) with long term effects.
Physical abuse causes short-term effects.
I thought that amount was fitting for me.
Language deprivation has long term effects.
I could have lived differently.
Why? I went to college with no idea of what I wanted.
Because people tried too hard to “fix me”.
I felt that I had to do what others expected of me.
I hadn’t had the chance to figure out who I was.
I was chasing after other people’s goals for me.
After years and years of language deprivation, I finally figured out my identity in my 40s.
When it came to having goals, a career and sense of individuality; it was too late.
I feel that language deprivation was more harmful more than the physical abuse.
Alex: Thank you for sharing, Rock. She also explained that one alumni sent back a check because the individual felt there should be three checks, one for each dorm the student was abused in. One check for each.
There is a detailed news article about the investigation and the abuses in the “Daily Hampshire Gazette.” I did a summary of those articles in a news report a few months ago. Links are in the transcript.
https://www.gazettenet.com/Clarke-School-alumni-detail-abuse-they-suffered-19985099
https://www.gazettenet.com/Report-found-history-of-abuse-at-Clarke-School-19626679
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2475653975809513
http://www.clarkeschools.org/about/board-of-trustees