[Watch ASL Video] We are pleased to announce that following the declaration by the United Nations (UN), International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) will be celebrated annually on the 23rd September as part of the International Week of the Deaf (IWDeaf).
For this year, taking place under a cross-cutting theme of ‘With Sign Language, Everyone is Included!’, IDSL will be held on Sunday 23rd September 2018 consecutively with IWDeaf which runs between Monday 24th September and Sunday 30th September 2018.
THEME OBJECTIVES
‘With Sign Language, Everyone is Included!’ observes the following collective goals of the IDSL and IWDeaf:
Reach out to and influence as many governments as possible to legally fulfil their obligations.
Promotes deaf people as unique in having both perspectives of disability and linguistic minority and that sign language and deaf culture strengthens multilingualism and are means of promoting, protecting and preserving diversity of languages and cultures globally.
Reflects the principles of the CRPD in its recognition of sign languages as equal to spoken languages. Sign languages are fully-fledged natural languages, structurally distinct from spoken languages, alongside which they coexist.
Emphasises sign language as a critical prerequisite to the full realisation of human rights for deaf people. Early access to sign language and services in sign language, including quality education available in sign language, is vital to the growth and development of the deaf individual and critical to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals.
Stresses that when working with Deaf Communities, the principle of “nothing about us without us” must be considered and integrated.
HASHTAGS
The recommended hashtags for both the IDSL and IWDeaf are: