International Week of the Deaf 23rd-29th September 2019
This is an initiative of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) that was first launched in 1958 in Rome, Italy. It is celebrated annually by the global Deaf Community on the last week of September each year to commemorate the same month the first World Congress of the WFD was held. International Week of the Deaf is celebrated through various activities by the respective Deaf Communities worldwide. International Week of the Deaf is the only week in a year that sees highly concerted global advocacy to raise awareness about the Deaf Community on different levels. It is about gathering together, becoming united, and showing that unity to the rest of the world.
International Week of the Deaf strives to promote the human rights of deaf people and highlight topics that merit attention.
All year groups looked at different topics. We were able to discuss why people use sign language and how it should be used. We looked at the differences of hearing loss, what being Deaf means and how Deaf people can choose how they communicate. We were lucky to have our Deaf support staff discuss their lives, university choices and how their lives are sometimes different to those who can hear. Have a look at some of our discussions in these videos below:
One of our Year 6 pupils also explains what she thinks about pupils learning sign language.