A Portugal Cove-St. Philips couple is going public after winning a defamation lawsuit against the NL and Canadian associations for the deaf.

Kim Churchill found out that both organizations had been circulating letters accusing her of ‘audism’—which is essentially discrimination against the deaf.

The letters were circulating at the same time that the Churchill family was involved in a human rights case—accusing the school district of discriminating against their son Carter, who is deaf.

The Churchills won their human rights case, but the victory rang hollow when Kim Churchill became aware of what was being said about her by two prominent deaf organizations.

“I really felt like a narrative was being spread that I was this horrible villain,” says Churchill. She couldn’t help but think that what was being said was connected to the difficulties they were having getting Carter a tutor, and that no-one from the deaf community wanted to work with them.

The Churchills received letters of apology from both organizations in February who offered their heartfelt and unqualified apologies.

Letter from the Canadian Association of the Deaf

Letter from the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of the Deaf