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Celebrate Deaf Awareness… this week!
By Deaf411 | September 20, 2011
The last full week of September is “Deaf Awareness Week”. The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) first launched “International Day of the Deaf” in 1958 and it has continued every year, gradually becoming a week-long celebration. Finally in 2007, the General Assembly at the United Nations adopted Deaf Awareness Week.
This international and national event is an opportunity to celebrate and promote deaf culture, American Sign Language and deaf heritage. Different organizations find creative ways to celebrate with activities including library displays, interpreted story hours, open houses in residential schools and mainstream programs, exhibit booths in shopping malls, sign language lessons, and material distribution.
Why Have Deaf Awareness?
This annual event allows us to draw attention to achievements of Deaf people and educate politicians, authorities and the general public about issues and concerns that deaf people face in everyday life, as well as honor the history and culture of people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
During Deaf Awareness Week, deaf organizations organize and publicize activities to celebrate and public information campaigns to educate people about deafness. Companies and agencies often acknowledge these events, and schools, colleges, and universities host awareness events. Amusement parks, such as Knott’s Berry Farm in California, may even hold special deaf awareness days.
Show the Hearing World
Statistics indicate that as many as 90% of deaf people are born to hearing families. An event such as Deaf Awareness Week helps hearing people get a better understanding of deaf culture. The annual events throughout the world are a reminder not only to hearing people, but also to deaf and hard of hearing people that deaf culture is viable and rich.
Deaf communities across the U.S. are hosting special events to honor this tradition. Los Angeles, for example, will have the annual DeaFestival at a local park funded through the City of Los Angeles. Deaf Fest 2011 takes place at a fairground in New Jersey. Each deaf community celebrates in their own way with festivals, performances, awareness workshops and school events.
Deaf Awareness Week this year
is held this week from September 18 to 24th.
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This report appeared in the September 2011 edition of Deaf411 eNewsletter, an electronic report which covers a different topic or theme in each month.
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