Deaf Awareness Month celebrated in September can help hearing individuals better understand the challenges faced by the Deaf community. And, when we all work together, respect each other, and advocate for each other’s rights, everyone benefits.
Today, we celebrate September as Deaf Awareness Month with International Week of the Deaf People (IWDP) – an initiative of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) which was first launched in 1958 in Rome, Italy. It is celebrated annually by the global Deaf Community on the last week of September each year to commemorate the same month the first World Congress of the WFD was held. IWDP is celebrated through various activities by the respective Deaf Communities worldwide.
The activities including World Day of the Deaf and The International Day of Sign Languages call for participation and involvements all members of deaf communities, various stakeholders including families, peers, Governmental bodies, professional sign language interpreters and Organizations of persons with disabilities.
World Day of the Deaf
World Day of The Deaf is celebrated on the last Sunday of September that calls for the attention of governments, non-governmental organizations, philanthropists, and the general society in order to help deaf people and their communities find a safe space in society at large.
The holiday features the achievements of deaf people all around the world. It helps many people to understand the remarkable works of people who are deaf. It also creates awareness about the challenges faced by deaf people and highlights the importance of sign language for the public.
Through this initiative, many people have become interested in helping deaf people fit into society better. Also, the holiday helps to create awareness about hearing loss. It has been found that many people are at risk of avoidable, permanent hearing loss. Organizations like the World Health Organization and United Nations are very much concerned about the issue of deafness, and they have given their support to WFD. However, during this holiday, people are encouraged to support those suffering from hearing loss. It is also a day to help create awareness concerning some dangerous habits that can easily lead to hearing loss.
The International Day of Sign Languages – Sign languages unite us!
The International Day of Sign Languages is a unique opportunity to support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all deaf people and other sign language users.
According to WFD, there are more than 70 million deaf people worldwide. More than 80% of them live in developing countries. Collectively, they use more than 300 different sign languages.
Sign languages are fully fledged natural languages, structurally distinct from the spoken languages. There is also an international sign language, which is used by deaf people in international meetings and informally when traveling and socializing. It is considered a pidgin form of sign language that is not as complex as natural sign languages and has a limited lexicon.
It makes clear that sign languages are equal in status to spoken languages and obligates states parties to facilitate the learning of sign language and promote the linguistic identity of the deaf community. Even if you are not deaf, sign language can be learned.
The UN General Assembly has proclaimed 23 September as the International Day of Sign Languages to raise awareness of the importance of sign language in the full realization of the human rights of people who are deaf.
The resolution establishing the day acknowledges that early access to sign language and services in sign language, including quality education available in sign language, is vital to the growth and development of the deaf individual and critical to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals. It recognizes the importance of preserving sign languages as part of linguistic and cultural diversity. It also emphasizes the principle of “nothing about us without us” in terms of working with deaf communities.
Learn more – https://wfdeaf.org/iwdeaf2022/.
