Written by Kelly Cotter, Posted by Tim McCue
This week, September 19th to September 25th is the last full week of September, meaning that it is also International Week of the Deaf.
Like all of us, Deaf people have been affected the COVID-19 pandemic. With people rightfully wearing masks to keep everyone safe, people with hearing impairments have been unable to see people’s mouths while they talk. This means that they cannot lip read, which makes understanding what they are saying more difficult, unless you are wearing a clear mask.
This week we recognize the inaccessibility deaf people face, and work to make the world more inclusive. This could be as simple as educating people about International Week of the Deaf, or even learning Sign Language. Sign language is important for communicating with people with disabilities. Also, making sure that any video you post or share has captions on it will make it much more accessible.
International Week of Deaf People has been celebrated since 2009. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Thriving Deaf Communities.”