Signing Savvy, Your Sign Language Resource

This week, September 24th to 30th, is Deaf Awareness Week. Deaf Awareness Week, also called International Week of the Deaf (IWD), is celebrated annually and ends with International Day of the Deaf on the last Sunday of the week.  Deaf Awareness Week is celebrated by national and regional associations of the deaf, local communities, and individuals worldwide.

The purpose of Deaf Awareness Week is to increase public awareness of deaf issues, people, and culture.  Activities and events throughout Deaf Awareness Week encourage individuals to come together as a community for both educational events and celebrations.

Here are some ways that you can participate in Deaf Awareness Week:

• Help promote the beautiful language of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing by learning a special something and sharing it with others out there who may not know sign language. You can use Signing Savvy to lookup and pick out signs to learn and share.  Also, visit the site each day the rest of the week to see the sign of the day, which have to do with Deaf Awareness Week (we've chosen the signs for deaf, hard of hearing, education, proud, community, and celebrate).
• Volunteer to sign a children’s book for story hour at your local school or library.
• Educate a co-worker or neighbor about Deaf Awareness Week.  Tell them it’s Deaf Awareness Week and share a fact with them – anything from a statistic, misconception, or success story to showing them how to sign something.

For more information on the history, purpose, and types of events that occur during Deaf Awareness Week, see our Deaf Awareness Week page.