International Week Of Deaf People 2023 Is Upon Us - What Can You Do To Get Involved?
Image source: World Federation of the Deaf
International Week of Deaf People 2023 is upon us, and runs from the 18th - 24th September. Running through the last week of September, the celebration allows people to come together to recognise deaf culture, with this year’s theme being “A World Where Deaf People Everywhere Can Sign Anywhere!”
The week aims to raise awareness of the rights of people who are deaf and hard of hearing, as well as to better educate and inform those who do not know much about the deaf community to help reduce the likelihood of discrimination. The World Federation of the Deaf has issued themes for each day, and two larger challenges: the Global Leaders Challenge and the Shine a Blue Light On Sign Languages challenge. The Shine a Blue Light On Sign Languages challenge invites public places, landmarks, and official buildings to be lit up in blue this week to unite the world through shining a blue light on sign languages, and the Global Leaders Challenge asks country leaders to sign this year’s theme “A World Where Deaf People Everywhere Can Sign Anywhere!” in their national sign language for International Day of Sign Languages.
International Day of Sign Languages will be celebrated on Saturday 23rd September this year. According to the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), there are over 70 million deaf people worldwide, using over 300 different sign languages. Sign languages are languages in their own rights, and are often structurally distinct from spoken languages. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities makes it clear that sign languages have an equal status to spoken languages and obligates States Parties to facilitate the learning of sign language.
First celebrated in 2018, the International Day of Sign Languages takes place on September 23rd to celebrate the date that the WFD was established 72 years ago in 1951, with the first International Week of Deaf People being celebrated in 1958. The WFD’s vision is to have human rights for deaf people including the recognition of sign language in all areas of life.
To learn more about the WFD’s vision please visit: https://wfdeaf.org/who-we-are/our-philosophy/
Daily Themes For The International Week of Deaf People 2023:
Monday 18th September: Declaration on the Rights of Deaf Children
Tuesday 19th September: Building Capacity Across the Globe
Wednesday 20th September: Realising “Nothing Without Us”
Thursday 21st September: Putting Deaf People on the Agenda
Friday 22nd September: Achieving Sign Language Rights for All
Saturday 23rd September: International Day of Sign Languages: A World Where Deaf People Everywhere Can Sign Anywhere
Sunday 24th September: Building Inclusive Deaf Communities
For more information about International Week of Deaf People and International Day of Sign Languages please visit: https://wfdeaf.org/iwdeaf2023/
