“No one is as deaf as the man who will not listen”
World Deaf Day is celebrated every year in last week (last Sunday) of the month of September to draw the attention of general public, politicians and development authorities towards the achievements of the deaf people as well as deaf people community. Throughout the celebration of the event, all the organizations for the deaf people worldwide are encouraged greatly to fulfill the demands and needs of the deaf people as well as increase their rights all over the world.
THEME:
Full Inclusion with Sign Language
In the year 2017, International Week of the Deaf unites under the theme ‘Full Inclusion with Sign Language!’ from 18 to 24 September. It is in tandem with the 3rd International Conference of the World Federation of the Deaf and believes that full social inclusion of deaf people is possible when sign language is recognized and used widely within the society.
HISTORY OF WORLD DEAF DAY
In 1958, World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) initiated the celebration of the World Day of the Deaf. They celebrate the International Week of the Deaf during the last week of September to commemorate the first World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf, which took place in September 1951. The day of awareness was later extended to a full week, becoming the International Week of the Deaf (IWD) and it was first launched in Rome, Italy. Since then, it is celebrated annually by the global deaf community. The International Week of the Deaf is held on the last week of September, the same month that the first World Congress of the WFD was held.
The World Federation of the Deaf is an international, non-governmental organization of national associations of Deaf people and is recognized by the United Nations (UN) as their spokes-organization to promote the human rights of Deaf people. The WFD is composed of 130 national associations of the deaf and represents approximately 70 million deaf people worldwide.
IMPORTANCE OF THE DEAF DAY
The purpose of Deaf Awareness Week is to increase public awareness of deaf issues, people, and culture. Activities and events throughout this week encourage individuals to come together as a community for both educational events and celebrations.
OBJECTIVES OF WORLD DEAF DAY
- To promote understanding among common people about the problems of deaf people in the community all over the world
- To motivate deaf people to learn sign language as an essential human right
- To ensure availability of the required resources in the community for deaf people
- To promote the deaf people’s human rights about equal access to the education and modern technologies.
Messages during Deaf Awareness Week include:
- Celebrate the culture, heritage, and language unique to deaf people of the world
- Promote the rights of deaf people throughout the world, including education for deaf people, access to information and services, the use of sign languages, and human rights for deaf people in developing countries
- Recognize achievements of deaf people, including famous deaf individuals
- Educate about the misconceptions of being deaf and the challenges they face during everyday life
- Learn about types, degrees, and causes of hearing loss
- Be exposed to sign language and other ways deaf and hard of hearing people communicate
- Learn about the types of educational programs, support services, and resources that are available to the deaf and hard of hearing community, including children
- Gain a better understanding of deaf culture
- Understand that deaf and hard of hearing individuals are just as capable, able, and intelligent as hearing individuals. There is a difference in the way those that are deaf and hard of hearing communicate, but it is not a handicap or disability
CELEBRATION OF WORLD DAY OF THE DEAF
International Week of the Deaf is commemorated through various activities (marches, debates, campaigns, exhibitions and meetings), and calld for the participation and involvement of stakeholders (families, peers, governmental bodies, professional sign language interpreters, Disabled People’s Organisations).
In India, the number of people who struggling with the deafness and hard of hearing is increasing. There are many opportunities for educational and training for deaf people including several organisations.
India has a handful of deaf sport organisations, including:
- All India Sport Council of the Deaf
- All India Cricket Association of the Deaf
- Delhi Sports Council for the Deaf
Reference:
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