HEARD offers Reentry Support to deaf/disabled community members who are recently released from prison.

Video Description: A horizontal video of Erin, a caramel-skinned AfroLatina with her hair covered in a headscarf wearing yellow glasses and a black long sleeved top, signing ASL, in front of a purple background. The video fades to a black background with ivory HEARD logo and “www.behearddc.org” in the center.

This support by and for deaf/disabled people is trauma-informed and inclusive of the many ways we communicate and heal. It includes:

Peer support spaces to heal, grow, and develop without punitive institutional influences
Opportunities to join peers to learn about carceral systems and reduce chances of reincarceration, develop conflict resolution and harm reduction skills, and develop skills to become peer educators, community interpreters and/or facilitators
Assistance and financial support to access housing, food, clothing, and other urgent needs upon release
Access to technology (e.g., cell phones, tablets, laptops) and technology training in ASL to connect with community and to increase exposure to information in ASL
Advocacy and assistance navigating parole/probation/supervision requirements

HEARD’s Reentry program creates a space of belonging, healing, resources, cultural/linguistic understanding and empathy for deaf/disabled formerly incarcerated folks and their loved ones who have been socially/linguistically deprived and harmed by the prison industrial complex.

How can I access reentry support?

Video Description: A horizontal video shows Leang, a Southeast Asian woman with shoulder-length hair and a black shirt, signing in front of a dark purple background. HEARD logo is placed at the bottom left corner, and there are organic shapes in the top left and bottom right corners. The video fades to a black background with ivory HEARD logo and “www.behearddc.org” in the center.

HEARD’s reentry support for 2024 is currently full. We are unable to provide reentry support to additional deaf/disabled people returning home in 2024 at this time.

If you or your loved one is preparing to come home from prison/jail in 2025 and would like to learn more about HEARD’s Reentry Program, feel free to email us at advocacy@HEARDadvocates.org or call HEARD’s videophone number at 202-381-0112. Please keep in mind that this phone number is only for people who are not currently incarcerated. Currently incarcerated people can contact HEARD’s videophone at 202-436-9278.

How can I support HEARD’s Reentry Program?

If you are:

a mental health provider, counselor, healer, or involved in community based healing work and would like to support HEARD’s Reentry Program;
an advocate or organization is engaging in direct advocacy with formerly incarcerated deaf/disabled people and would like to exchange resources or information;
a business owner or community member that would like to donate services or resources to formerly incarcerated deaf/disabled people;

Please contact Reentry Program Director Esperanza at advocacy@HEARDadvocates.org.