Deaf woman twice the victim of sexual assault gets donated hearing aids
Dalesha
As Dr. Tom Wardzala turned on the volume to the custom-fitted devices from a nearby computer   Daleshaâs  eyes darted in  his  direction  and she nodded quickly.
Davis and his partner  Judith Powe  first met  Dalesha  about three years ago while investigating  her  rape in a south suburb where  she  once lived.
In the ensuing months  the detectives  along with sheriffâs investigator Ruth Mendez  who knows sign language  took  Dalesha  as their charge  helping  her  reach  her  dream of walking across the stage to graduate high school. During their first meeting   she  had surprised them with the request  saying it was a step to bigger things. Like a job or moving out of a dangerous neighborhood.
The detectives became  her  contact at the Chicago public school where  she  enrolled. They took  her  to appointments  helped with community service hours  shopped for school supplies and cheered  her  on when  she  collected  her  diploma.
Since  her  graduation in June  even more has changed for  Dalesha   who is not being identified by the Tribune because  she  is a rape victim. Donations have been given to  her .  She  was scheduled to start work at a grocery store on Friday. But most life-changing was the offer from HearStrong Foundation to contribute to  her  college tuition and fit  her  with hearing aids.
 Dalesha   whose name has been changed to protect  her  identity  receives new hearing aids at the Sertoma Speech & Hearing Center on Nov. 9  2017  in Palos Hills. The 22-year-old sexual assault survivor was born with total hearing loss. (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune) (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune)
 Dalesha  will be among those honored Monday night at a HearStrong event downtown. The Chicago-based organization raises awareness and advocates for the deaf community.
Brian McCaskey  a Bears vice president who suffers from hearing loss and co-founded HearStrong  read about  Dalesha âs story in the Tribune in June and offered the help.
 Dalesha  was sexually assaulted by acquaintances in a home in 2013.  She  had grown angry and confused when the investigation languished â until Davis  Powe and Mendez reached out to  her .
 Dalesha  had already faced similar adversity.  She  had been the victim of another rape in 2010.
Susan Herman  a national expert on crime victims who has written a book on the subject  says  Dalesha  has received the kind of support that all victims of violence need.
âThis is an unusual case â the length they have gone to meet her needs â said Herman  praising  Dalesha  for articulating her concerns. âWe have an obligation to not only hold offenders accountable but to help victims rebuild lives.â
In the push to help  Dalesha  stretch to that next level â attending college â the detectives have learned that she in fact had earned in 2014 the credit hours she needed at a south suburban school to graduate.
âShe had no clue â Mendez  the investigator who knows sign language  said of  Dalesha . âIf anything  we gave her that. For that I will be forever grateful. She got the experience to cross that stage  to feel like a graduate. It goes to show you how important it is to have a support system.â
Wardzala  who works for Sertoma Speech & Hearing Center  said the hearing aids given to  Dalesha  became available only about half a year ago.
Most people with profound hearing loss benefit from hearing aids  Wardzala said. But not everyone has access to the devices they need  and certainly not the high-end ones given to  Dalesha  that cost about $6 000 a pair.
As Dr. Tom Wardzala turned on the volume to the custom-fitted devices from a nearby computer   Daleshaâs  eyes darted in  his  direction  and she nodded quickly.
Davis and his partner  Judith Powe  first met  Dalesha  about three years ago while investigating  her  rape in a south suburb where  she  once lived.
In the ensuing months  the detectives  along with sheriffâs investigator Ruth Mendez  who knows sign language  took   [TGT] as their charge  helping   [TGT]   reach   [TGT]   dream of walking across the stage to graduate high school. During their first meeting    [TGT]   had surprised them with the request  saying it was a step to bigger things. Like a job or moving out of a dangerous neighborhood.
The detectives became   [TGT]   contact at the Chicago public school where   [TGT]   enrolled. They took   [TGT]   to appointments  helped with community service hours  shopped for school supplies and cheered   [TGT]   on when   [TGT]   collected   [TGT]   diploma.
Since   [TGT]   graduation in June  even more has changed for   [TGT] . Donations have been given to   [TGT]  .   [TGT]   was scheduled to start work at a grocery store on Friday. But most life-changing was the offer from HearStrong Foundation to contribute to   [TGT]   college tuition and fit   [TGT]   with hearing aids.
  [TGT] receives new hearing aids at the Sertoma Speech & Hearing Center on Nov. 9  2017  in Palos Hills. The 22-year-old sexual assault survivor was born with total hearing loss. (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune) (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune)
  [TGT] will be among those honored Monday night at a HearStrong event downtown. The Chicago-based organization raises awareness and advocates for the deaf community.
Brian McCaskey  a Bears vice president who suffers from hearing loss and co-founded HearStrong  read about   [TGT]  âs story in the Tribune in June and offered the help.
  [TGT] was sexually assaulted by acquaintances in a home in 2013.   [TGT]   had grown angry and confused when the investigation languished â until Davis  Powe and Mendez reached out to   [TGT]  .
  [TGT] had already faced similar adversity.   [TGT]   had been the victim of another rape in 2010.
Susan Herman  a national expert on crime victims who has written a book on the subject  says   [TGT] has received the kind of support that all victims of violence need.
âThis is an unusual case â the length they have gone to meet  [TGT]  needs â said Herman  praising   [TGT] for articulating  [TGT]  concerns. âWe have an obligation to not only hold offenders accountable but to help victims rebuild lives.â
In the push to help   [TGT] stretch to that next level â attending college â the detectives have learned that  [TGT]  in fact had earned in 2014 the credit hours  [TGT]  needed at a south suburban school to graduate.
âShe had no clue â Mendez  the investigator who knows sign language  said of  [TGT]  . âIf anything  we gave  [TGT]  that. For that I will be forever grateful.  [TGT]  got the experience to cross that stage  to feel like a graduate. It goes to show you how important it is to have a support system.â
Wardzala  who works for Sertoma Speech & Hearing Center  said the hearing aids given to   [TGT] became available only about half a year ago.
Most people with profound hearing loss benefit from hearing aids  Wardzala said. But not everyone has access to the devices they need  and certainly not the high-end ones given to  Dalesha  that cost about $6 000 a pair.