Guide on Celebrating International Week of the Deaf and International Day of Sign Languages

International Week of the Deaf is an event celebrated throughout the world and promoted by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), an international organization representing approximately 70 million people worldwide. The week is a celebration of the achievements of the Deaf community and the rich world of Deaf culture. It also is a reminder of the injustice this community still suffers at the hands of societies across the world.  It is the alarm that goes off each year to alert us all that that deaf people  from all continents continue to be segregated by linguistic, cultural, economic and political distinctions. 

WFD initiated International Day of the Deaf in 1958, and chose the last Sunday in September to commemorate that the first World Congress of the WFD took place in September 1951. The celebration later extended from a single day to a week, and is now celebrated around the world during the last full week of September every year. 

The purpose of International Week of the Deaf is to draw the attention of legislators, policy makers, and the general public to the achievements of deaf people and the concerns of the Deaf community. During this week, organizations of deaf people worldwide are encouraged to carry out campaigns to publicize or increase awareness about Deaf culture, language, and legal issues on varying levels.  The event increases solidarity among deaf people and their supporters, and is used as a time to stimulate greater efforts to promote the rights of deaf people throughout the world.

In addition, the NAD later added an International Day of Sign Language in concurrence with International Week of the Deaf to recognize the importance of sign languages of the world along with the linguistic and human rights of deaf people.

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is an ordinary member organization of the WFD representing deaf people in the United States.  The NAD joins with many other national organizations of the deaf around the world in celebrating International Week of the Deaf.

Hosting A Celebration of International Week of the Deaf and Day of Sign Language in the United States:

The NAD seeks to engage with communities across the country to celebrate and recognize the International Week of the Deaf including the International Day of Sign Languages.  The NAD asks all organizations representing the deaf community including state associations of the deaf across the United States to join in promoting and spreading awareness of these important events.  In this connection, the following is a list of proposed factors and ideas that can be considered or used by any organization wishing to host a celebration of International Week of the Deaf.

The key factors to keep in mind when planning your event are the following:

Date

The date of this International Day of Sign Languages that commemorates with WFD’s International Week of the Deaf starts on the last week of September and ends on the last Sunday of the month.  For 2012, the week falls on September 24th through September 30th.  You can host an event for the whole week, a few days or just one day during that week.  

Venue

The venue for any celebration should be planned in conjunction with the theme so that the location is accessible and has adequate size for the number of people anticipated to attend. As with any event involving deaf and hard of hearing people, it is critical to have a venue that provides a deaf friendly space.

Finance

Your organization will need to determine the costs of hosting any celebration and plan accordingly including but not limited to: speaker fees, venue costs, provision of food and drinks, creating and producing materials or giveaways, and many other factors. Sponsorship is encouraged.

Social Media

Responsible use of social media is an effective way to promote any event you plan, not only to your organizations’ members but also to the general public. Be sure to share your planned event with the NAD so that it can be listed on a national list of events with the entire deaf and hard of hearing community whenever possible and available. 

The following list is an offering of ideas designed to assist any organization wishing to host an event: 

1. Create a committee that includes a wide range of members of your committee including those who may not traditionally be involved with the deaf community.
2. The event does not have to be restricted to an International theme.  It could also celebrate the contributions of deaf people and Deaf culture in the United States and recognize what issues remain here for advancement of linguistic and human rights in this country.
3. The event can be open to the public and be structured in the following ways:
   1. Offer a workshop that imparts new knowledge about deaf people, Deaf culture, American Sign Language (ASL) or international sign languages; 
   2. Invite a scholar, politician or ‘local hero’ to give a talk;
   3. Create a panel discussion or forum with persons who participate in international work who represent or discuss Deaf Culture as it exists in other countries, the lives and rights of deaf people in other countries, and/or international sign languages current issues or trends;
   4. Offer a workshop that offers lessons on ASL or international sign language(s);
   5. Host Cafes or Round Tables to discuss the beauty of and articulates the importance of ASL and/or international sign languages;
   6. Host a special event with a deaf keynote speaker, or film, live performance, or art show that have a Deaf centric theme; 
   7. Host a gathering with foods, games or contest, and the event could be a picnic, party, banquet, BBQ, luncheon, brunch or tea/coffee time out at a local cafe or tea-house;  and/or
   8. Provide charity tie-in events with a business organization in your community that sells or offers products and service to public as a raffle prize for fundraising and promotion of the international week of sign languages.
4. Ideas to help promote your event include:
   1. Post information about the  event on your organization website;
   2. Post news or information that you, members and friends can circulate  about the event in your social media links (FB, LinkIn, Google+ or in your blog/vlog);
   3. Contact local media (newspaper, TV, radio, city blog) for an article with them or disseminate stories to them;
   4. Distribute materials promoting the event to your organization’s members, colleagues, affiliates or clients; 
   5. Create and disseminate creative short video clips celebrating the event and distribute through your social network;
   6. Create and circulate a documentary film that focuses on ASL and/or international sign languages;
   7. Design, produce and circulate a eye-catching poster that revolves around a deaf centric theme; and
   8. Obtain giveaway items such as personalized pens, sticky notes or buttons from your organization that promote the event and distribute them to the public

Be Part of International Week of the Deaf!

We hope that this paper provides you with ideas to host a fun and informative International Week of the Deaf and International Day of Sign Languages in your area. The NAD looks forward to working with you to increase awareness in the general public about the beauty of ASL and other sign languages. Please share with the NAD your plans for any events.