Sep 7, 20212 min read

Don't just sit there! Join the International Deaf Awareness Month 2021

Updated: Sep 9, 2021

We have already shared information about International Deaf Awareness Month – we hope you enjoyed this and found it useful? September is Deaf Awareness Month and at this time organizations all over the world focus on promoting positive aspects of deafness, encourage social inclusion, and raise awareness of those organizations that support the deaf.

Here is what you need to know about International Deaf Awareness Month 2021:

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SIGN LANGUAGES

The International Day of Sign Languages is celebrated annually across the world on 23 September. The theme of the #IDSL2021 is "We Sign for Human Rights" and this celebration is an opportunity:

to support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all deaf people and other sign language users
to promote understanding among people about the problems deaf people face in the community
to draw the attention of the general public, the world’s politicians and developmental authorities towards the achievements of deaf people as well as deaf people’s worldwide community
to promote the human rights of deaf people with regard to equal access in education and to modern technologies.

An 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. It recognizes the importance of preserving sign languages as part of linguistic and cultural diversity.

Sign languages are essential to advance the human rights of deaf people to live in freedom through all aspects of economic, social, cultural and political spheres.

Please watch the video message by the Disability Advocate Nyle DiMarco on the occasion of the first International Day of Sign Languages celebrated in 2018 as part of the International Week of the Deaf:

INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF THE DEAF

The International Week of the Deaf is an initiative of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and it was first celebrated in September 1958 and has since evolved into a global movement by the Deaf Community to raise awareness of the issues deaf people face in their everyday lives.

It is celebrated every year during the last full week of September. This year it will be celebrated 20-26 September 2021 with the theme "Celebrating Thriving Deaf Communities".

We also wanted to share a short video to promote the cultural diversity of sign languages. According to the World Federation of the Deaf, there are approximately 72 million deaf people worldwide. More than 80% of them live in developing countries and collectively, they use more than 300 different sign languages.

To support this information, an example “speaks” volumes: In the following video I will sign in Spanish Sign Language and Lorraine will sign in British Sign Language. Spot the differences!