International Week of the Deaf

Initiative launched in 1958 by the World Foundation of the Deaf (WFD) which celebrates the global Deaf Community and reaffirms deaf people’s human rights, including access to sign language.

The International Week of Deaf People has been celebrated during the last full week of September. This week, we come together to recognise that deaf people have our own communities, our own cultures, our own languages, sign languages, which unite us all.

This year’s theme for the International Week of Deaf People is “Celebrating Thriving Deaf Communities”. Deaf communities have been expanding and thriving throughout the years and giving us all strength, now is the time to celebrate their incredible endurance at the local, national and international level.

This is an important week for the recognition of deaf people, it is vital for deaf communities and deaf organisations. This falls under the key principle, “Nothing about us, without us!”.