Luisa

Luisa was shown no affection by her family, and was abused at school.

She shares her account in British Sign Language.

Luisa grew up in the 1950s and 60s. She is deaf and was often told by her mother that she was ‘a burden’. She was not given any affection, and this became more pronounced when her mother married and had more children.

Her stepfather verbally abused her, and physically abused her mother, while her step-siblings were treated with love and kindness by both parents. She remembers, when she was about nine years old, being made to sleep under her parents’ bed and being aware of them having sex.

Luisa attended a specialist boarding school for deaf children, where she was sexually abused by a senior member of staff, Mr Taylor, and another member of staff employed at the school, Mrs Taylor. Luisa dreaded going back to school after the weekends, and would often throw a tantrum. 

Mr Taylor used to push her face onto his private parts and become aroused. He would shout at her for not being able to hear and make her undress and stand in the corner.

Sometimes Mrs Taylor and Mr Taylor would take Luisa to a bedroom, and Mr Taylor would sexually abuse her while Mrs Taylor watched. They threatened her and told her not to tell anyone. 

Luisa also suffered physical and emotional abuse at the school. The children were made to try and speak, and if they attempted to sign, teachers would tie their hands behind their backs.

Luisa managed to write a letter to one of her friends, and told her what was happening in the school. The friend’s mother saw the letter and reported it to the police who visited the school with a doctor. 

Luisa was called out of the classroom, and told to take her clothes off while the doctor examined her. Later she told her mother, who called the school, but the teacher convinced her that Luisa’s account was not true. After this, Luisa’s mother criticised her even more.

The abuse Luisa suffered still affects her in many ways. She feels anger and anxiety, and has self-harmed. She has also experienced other problems, including with alcohol. She has suffered with depression and has felt suicidal.

She says her husband is supportive of her, particularly after it came to light that other children were abused at her school, but she struggles with intimacy so their relationship can be difficult.

Luisa has a fractured relationship with her children and says this is because her experiences made her over-protective of them. 

She feels strongly that all children should have access to services in their own language, including British Sign Language for deaf children. She would also like to see specialists employed in schools who are trained to spot signs of abuse and to offer support.

Luisa has managed to access counselling which will commence soon.