In the early 1980s, Marilyn J. Smith learned that a Deaf victim of domestic violence was murdered by her husband. Shelters at that time were not willing to be accessible for Deaf victims and this woman had been denied services. This so angered Smith, who is Deaf herself, that she drew upon her own experience with sexual violence to found Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services (ADWAS) in 1986, the first of its kind in the world to provide advocacy and counseling, with full accessibility, to Deaf and DeafBlind women in a Deaf-centered setting. By 2001, it was clear that there was a need for transitional housing that would provide communication access and services 24/7. Spearheaded by Smith, a capital campaign raised $8.6 million to build 19 apartments as well as offices for ADWAS staff. ‘A Place of Our Own’ opened in Seattle in 2006, and stands as a testament to the perseverance and vision of Marilyn J. Smith.