@masterraalkivictorieux Master Ra’al Ki VIctorieux
Celebrate the International Day of Sign Languages! 🤟🏽 Let’s raise awareness for the deaf community and promote inclusion. 🗣️👐 #SignLanguage #Inclusion #DeafAwareness #CulturalDiversity https://wp.me/p3JLEZ-9sq
International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) is celebrated annually across the world on 23 September every year along with International Week of the Deaf.
The choice of 23 September is the same date that the World Federation of the Deaf was established in 1951.
The International Day of Sign Languages, serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of sign languages and the rights of those who use them. This day raises awareness about the linguistic and cultural significance of sign languages globally and advocates for the inclusion of the deaf community in societal dialogues.
Relevance of the International Day of Sign Languages
Approximately 466 million people worldwide experience hearing loss, this figure represents over 5% of the global population and includes 34 million children. Many of them rely on sign languages as their primary means of communication. This significant population underscores the need for greater awareness, accessibility, and inclusion. The International Day of Sign Languages emphasizes that sign language is not merely a tool for communication; it is a vital part of cultural identity for the deaf community. By promoting recognition and appreciation for these languages, we foster an environment that respects diversity and encourages dialogue.
Main International Laws about Deaf Inclusion
In recent years, several key international laws have emerged to support the rights of the deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. The most notable include:
- The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) – Adopted by the United Nations in 2006, the CRPD recognizes the importance of languages, including sign languages, as essential to the identity of deaf individuals. It mandates that state parties promote the learning of sign languages and ensure accessible communication.
- The World Health Organization’s Global Action Plan on Hearing Care – This framework advocates for the integration of deaf individuals into society and emphasizes the need for accessible health and educational services.
- National Laws – Many countries have established laws that protect the rights of individuals with hearing disabilities, ensuring equal access to education, employment, and public services.
These laws are instrumental in fostering an inclusive environment where deaf individuals can thrive.
Vaty’s Legacy
My Swiss grandfather, whom we affectionately called “Vaty,” was a resilient figure in our family. He lived in a world predominantly filled with silence, a realm where whispers of laughter and the melodies of conversation danced just beyond his reach. Each story he shared about how he lost his hearing was laced with a hint of nostalgia, a bittersweet reminder of the life he had once experienced.
He recounted tales of his youth—one vivid memory involved him falling from a horse, feeling the ground rush up to meet him before everything faded into silence. Another time, he spoke of working alongside my mother’s first husband in the rugged terrain of Chiapas, where the blasts from dynamite echoed through the mountains, shattering the tranquility and leaving him with permanent damage to his ears. Or the fateful day at the serene Montebello lakes, where a careless dive turned adventurous play into an accident that cost him his hearing. Each tale was a fragment of his life, yet I often found myself questioning which one was true.
What stuck with me was not just the uncertainty of his stories, but the realization of how each narrative reflected our family’s struggle with inclusion. In a time when sign language was not as widely recognized, Vaty’s sons placed the burden of connection onto his hearing aid. They believed that providing him with the device was enough. Yet, Vaty’s worries were constant—how expensive those batteries were, how they quickly depleted, leading him to keep the volume low. He half-heard us, content in his silence but forever distanced from the vibrant tapestry of conversation that enveloped the rest of us.
I reflected on our family dynamics, particularly on my grandmother, who seemed to speak at an octane level. As a child, her voice felt more like a loud haze than a melody; it was only in my later years that I realized her volume was a quiet alignment to Vaty’s silence. Adjusting to a life with a deaf husband, she had learned to project herself to bridge the gap between them.
Yet, it was not just my grandmother’s voice I remembered; it was the missed opportunities for deeper conversations with Vaty that weighed on my heart. We failed to learn the beautiful language of signs, to bridge that gap and enhance our interactions with him. Now that Vaty has passed away, I find myself enveloped in regret and reflection. But I can honor his memory, perhaps by embarking on a journey to learn sign language myself.
In Vaty’s honor, I choose to embrace this challenge. I envision a future where my understanding expands, where empathy becomes sharper, and where my own social circles are enriched through this newfound skill. I long to connect not just with the memory of my grandfather but with others who have similar stories of overcoming barriers to communication.
Learning sign language might not change the past, but it offers a lesson for the present. In honoring the rights of those like Vaty, I can ensure that the gift of communication is no longer a burden, but a bridge. In my heart, I carry his legacy, a push to foster inclusion and understanding, a gentle reminder that family is not just about blood, but about the connections we strive to build. And though the echoes of his laughter may fade, the love he game me will resonate forever more.
Artivism About Deaf Inclusion
Artivism, the intersection of art and activism, plays a vital role in promoting deaf inclusion. Through various forms of expression, artists bring awareness to the challenges faced by the deaf community while celebrating their culture. Some noteworthy examples include:
- Cartoonist: Adrean Clark, Matt Daigle, Tony McGregor, Maureen Klusza, Shawn Richardson, and Kurt Stoskopf create cartoons about Deaf issues. You can find their work in the Deaf Art/Deaf Artists website.
- Movies: Films such as “Sound of Metal”, a fictional story about a heavy-metal musician who starts losing his sense of hearing.
- Disability-inclusive children’s books: Here are some titles:
- Riley the Rainbow Unicorn and Their Magical Hearing Adventure.
- Ears, Ears, Everywhere!
- Ada and the Helpers.
- Rebekah’s Superpower!
- Dancing Hands: A Story of Friendship in Filipino Sign Language
- Next Door
Artivism serves as a powerful vehicle for change, educating the public and advocating for the rights of the deaf community.
Also, some deaf artist have made her creativity a beacon of resilience. For example, In 1793, at the height of his artistic powers, Goya, then 46, came down with a severe, undiagnosed illness. He was bedridden for months, suffered from hallucinations and constant headaches, and could hardly walk. Slowly he got better, but his hearing never returned. Other deaf painters were Quintus Pedius (IT), Pinturicchio (IT), Joanot de Pau (Joan Pau Guardiola) (ES), Juan Fernandez Navarrete (ES), Hendrick Avercamp (NL), Wolfgang Heimbach (DE), Johannes Thopas (NL), Joshua Reynolds (UK), Richard Crosse (UK), and Charles Shirreff (UK).
Sign Language Alphabets From Around The World
Sign language is not a single universal language, but rather a variety of distinct languages used by Deaf communities around the world. Each sign language has its own unique grammar, vocabulary, and cultural influences, just like spoken languages. There are hundreds of different sign languages in use today.
Sign languages are true languages:
They are not just gestures or pantomime; they have their own complex grammatical structures and vocabulary.
They are visual-manual languages: They use hand movements, facial expressions, and body language to convey meaning.
Cultural significance: Sign languages are not just a means of communication; they are also an important part of Deaf culture and identity.
Variety of sign languages:
There are around 300 different sign languages worldwide, with some being more widely used than others.
Most people start their sign language journey by learning the A-Z or alphabet equivalent in sign form. The use of the hands to represent individual letters of a written alphabet is called ‘fingerspelling’. It’s an important tool that helps signers manually spell out names of people, places and things that don’t have an established sign. Of course, not every language uses the Latin alphabet like English, so their sign language alphabet differs as well. Some manual alphabets are one-handed, such as in ASL and French Sign Language, and others use two-hands, like BSL or Auslan. Though there are similarities between some of the different manual alphabets, each sign language has its own style and modifications, and remains unique.
Some well-known sign languages include American Sign Language (ASL), British, Australian and New Zealand Sign Language (BANZSL), French Sign Language (LSF), German Sign Language (DGS), and many more. Sign languages are not mutually intelligible; for example, American Sign Language (ASL) and British Sign Language (BSL) are different languages.
The Easiest Way to Learn Sign Language
Learning sign language is more accessible today than ever. Various resources are available for beginners, including online courses, mobile apps, and community classes. Platforms like YouTube offer free tutorials, while local organizations often provide workshops or meet-ups to practice with others.
Why You Should Learn Sign Language
Learning sign language is beneficial for several reasons:
- Enhanced Communication: Knowing sign language expands your ability to communicate with a broader range of people, fostering inclusivity.
- Cultural Understanding: Learning sign language allows individuals to appreciate the rich culture and community that exists within the deaf population.
- Empathy and Awareness: Engaging with sign language cultivates empathy and a better understanding of the challenges faced by deaf individuals, promoting a more inclusive society.
By embracing sign languages, we not only empower the deaf community but also enrich our own lives through the act of communication and connection. This International Day of Sign Languages reminds us that inclusion is a shared responsibility, one that begins with understanding and learning from each other.
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