Jennifer Upah-Kyes has served as the Executive Director of Deaf Iowans Against Abuse, Inc. (DIAA), since 2007 and is a certified Sexual Assault (SA) and Domestic Violence (DV) counselor. In her role as a counselor, she provides trauma informed services to empower deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing survivors in their journey towards healing and justice. She is also responsible for administration of programs, staff supervision, fundraising, case management, domestic violence, sexual assault, violence, suicide and substance abuse victim services. In her quest for effective multi-disciplinary response, Ms. Upah-Kyes provides training to the Deaf community, sign language interpreters, first responders (law enforcement, fire departments, and EMTs) and judicial systems both statewide and nationally. Previously, she was an American Sign Language instructor for ten years at Kirkwood Community College. Ms. Upah-Kyes has served on the board of directors for Justice for Deaf National Coalition (JDVNC), Deaf Services Commission of Iowa, Department of Human Rights, and Horizons.

Mrs. Upah-Kyes credentials are under the Iowa Coalition against Domestic Violence (IowaCADV), Iowa Coalition against Sexual Assault (IowaCASA) and Iowa Organization for Victim Assistance. Mrs. Upah-Kyes was a certified Rape Aggression Defense Instructor (R.A.D) and provided R.A.D. self-defense training.

Ms. Upah-Kyes was born deaf and raised in an oral educational system. She was not exposed to the deaf community or American Sign Language until college. There, she realized the value and richness of language exposure and cultural identity and recognized their lacking in her upbringing. As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and suicide attempt, she brings a strong passion to ensure that deaf children’s needs are met. Her role as Executive Director has given her an extensive experience with school, medical, sign language interpreters, judicial and government systems and families.

Telina is certified by the Iowa Coalition of Sexual Assault and the Iowa Coalition of Domestic Violence in her role as our Legal & Victim Service Advocate. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justices from Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York.