International Week of the Deaf

On 19 December 2017, the UN General Assembly declared 23 September as International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL). The resolution was proposed through the Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the UN, following an original request by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD). There were 97 UN Member States including Canada voted for adoption of the resolution as co-sponsors. The choice of 23 September commemorates the date the WFD was established in 1951. The objective of the IDSL is to raise awareness on sign languages and strengthen the status about sign languages.

The IDSL takes place on the last full week of September as part of the International Week of the Deaf (IWDeaf), which was recognized and celebrated by the WFD in 1958. The IWDeaf is celebrated through various activities by respective Deaf communities in Canada and around the world. These activities call for participation and involvement of various stakeholders including families, peers, governmental bodies, professional sign language interpreters, and Disabled Person Organizations (DPOs).

Current Year

International Week of the Deaf 2022

Visit the World Federation of the Deaf

Past Years

International Week of the Deaf 2020

The Canadian Association of the Deaf – Association des Sourds du Canada (CAD-ASC) is proudly to endorse WFD’s key campaign theme: “Reaffirming Deaf People’s Human Rights” for promoting International Week of the Deaf on September 21 to 27, 2020:

• 21 September: Sign Languages
• 22 September: Inclusive Sign Language Environments
• 23 September: Sign Languages are for Everyone!
• 24 September: The Legal Recognition of National Sign Languages
• 25 September: Equal Opportunities for All Deaf People
• 26 September: Deaf Leadership
• 27 September: I sign for Human Rights!

International Week of the Deaf 2019

The theme for this year, which is announced by the WFD: “Sign Language Rights for All!” that is scheduled to be on September 23 to 29, 2019. During the closing ceremony at XVII WFD Congress in Paris, France on July 27, 2019, the WFD introduced the WFD Charter on Sign Language Rights for All, which reaffirms strong commitment to take all necessary steps to safeguard the inclusion of Deaf people in society, recognition of their needs, dignity and human rights as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and all other international human rights treaties. Also, it commits to ensuring the promotion of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution that recognizing September 23rd as the International Day of Sign Languages as part of the International Week of the Deaf.

The Canadian Association of the Deaf – Association des Sourds du Canada (CAD-ASC) is proudly to endorse WFD’s key campaign theme for promoting International Week of the Deaf 2019:

International Week of the Deaf 2018

The Canadian Association of the Deaf-Association des Sourds du Canada (CAD-ASC), the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf (CCSD), Association québécoise des interprètes en langues des signes (AQILS) and the Canadian Association of Sign Language Interpreters (CASLI) are jointly pleased to endorse activities promoting this year’s theme is “With Sign Langauge, Everyone is Included!” on the United Nations’ International Day of Sign Languages, September 23 and International Week of the Deaf, September 24 – 30, 2018 for these events across Canada that will strive to promote the rights of Deaf people and highlight human rights issues on Sign languages and accessibility.

The Canadian Association of the Deaf – Association des Sourds du Canada (CAD-ASC) is proudly to endorse WFD’s key campaign theme for promoting ASL, LSQ & ISLs Awareness Day across Canada on September 22, 2018.

International Week of the Deaf 2017

The International Week of the Deaf is slated to schedule during the last week of September 18-24, 2017. The World Federation of the Deaf has announced the theme for the 2017 International Week of the Deaf as “Full Inclusion with Sign Language!” The theme describes that full inclusion of Deaf people is possible when Sign language is recognized and used widely within our society. Without the actual recognition, facilitation and promotion of Sign language, the rights outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the recently adopted United Nations 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development Goals cannot be fully achieved.

A full summary of the WFD’s Key Campaign Messages can be found at https://wfdeaf.org/iwd2017-full-inclusion-with-sign-language/

Canadian Association of the Deaf-Association des Sourds du Canada (CAD-ASC) announces campaign key messages to address, in connection to the WFD theme, to ensure an inclusive and accessible Canada for Deaf people with the principle of basic human rights in Sign languages and Accessibility:

• CAD-ASC’s Campaign Key Messages

The Canadian Association of the Deaf-Association des Sourds du Canada (CAD-ASC), the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf (CCSD), Association québécoise des interprètes en langues des signes (AQILS) and the Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada (AVLIC) are jointly pleased to endorse activities promoting the International Week of the Deaf, September 18 – 24, 2017 for these events across Canada that will strive to promote the rights of Deaf people and highlight human rights issues on Sign languages and accessibility.

International Week of the Deaf 2016

The International Week of the Deaf is slated to schedule during the last week of September 19-25, 2016, and the World Federation of the Deaf has announced the theme for the 2016 International Week of the Deaf: “With Sign Language, I am Equal.” The year 2016-2017 includes key milestones, as we will: 1) celebrate the 60^th Anniversary of the World Federation of the Deaf; 2) commemorate the 10^th year Adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPRD); and 3) acknowledge the recent adoption of the UN’s 2030 Agenda of the new Sustainable Development Goals.

A full summary of WFD’s Campaign Key Messages can be found at https://wfdeaf.org/news/iwd-2016-will-take-place-theme-sign-language-equal-19-25-september

Canadian Association of the Deaf-Association des Sourds du Canada (CAD-ASC) announces the 5 key points to address, in connection to the WFD theme, to ensure an inclusive and accessible Canada for Deaf people with the principle of basic human rights in Sign languages and Accessibility:

• CAD-ASC’s Five Points (2016)

The Canadian Association of the Deaf-Association des Sourds du Canada (CAD-ASC), the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf (CCSD), Association québécoise des interprètes en langues des signes (AQILS) and the Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada (AVLIC) are jointly pleased to endorse activities promoting the International Week of the Deaf, September 19 – 25, 2016 for these events across Canada that will strive to promote the rights of Deaf people and highlight human rights issues on Sign languages and accessibility.

International Week of the Deaf 2015

The 2015 theme for International Week of the Deaf, announced by the World Federation of the Deaf is “With Sign Language Rights, Our Children Can!” that will focus on Deaf children and Sign language. The International Week of the Deaf is slated to schedule during the last week of September 21-27, 2015.

Canadian Association of the Deaf-Association des Sourds du Canada (CAD-ASC) announces the 5 key points to ensure an inclusive and accessible Canada for Deaf people with the principle of basic human rights in Sign languages and Accessibility:

• CAD-ASC’s Five Points (2015)

Canadian Association of the Deaf-Association des Sourds du Canada (CAD-ASC); Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf (CCSD), Association québécoise des interprètes en langues des signes (AQILS) and Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada (AVLIC) are jointly pleased to endorse activities promoting the International Week of the Deaf on September 21-27, 2015.