Penn Sign Language Students celebrate Week of the Deaf

The International Week of The Deaf is celebrated during the last full week of September.

It’s put on by the World Federation of The Deaf (WFD). The international organization focuses on improving human rights of deaf persons, the status of national sign languages, and access to information technology and services.

This week, the WFD encourages you to focus on the theme of human rights through sign languages. The goal is giving greater attention to deaf culture, having deaf people portrayed in a positive way, and increasing solidarity among deaf people and their communities.
Mrs. Sandler teaches American Sign Language here at Penn. She says Penn does a good job of representing deaf awareness week.

“I think Penn represents Deaf Awareness Week in really great way. We’ve had Deaf for A Day activities where students in ASL 1 put on earplugs that simulate mild hearing loss where they go about their business for all four, ideally, in a day and experience what it’s like living as a person that’s hard of hearing without access to sign language. I think it’s a really huge deal that we have the option to provide that experience too,” Sandler said.

Brady Shivley is a sophomore at Penn High School. Both of his parents are part of the deaf community. He says it’s important for people to get involved this week ad grow awareness for those hard of hearing.

“I think doing stuff with the actual community and having students go out and do stuff and get first hand experience with deafness could be more beneficial,” Shively said.

Mrs. Sandler agrees – she says this week is an opportunity to practice how you would include a deaf person into your social circle.

“I think sometimes it’s easy for folk that have different needs, different social situations to sort of fall between the cracks. That’s sort of true for all different types of people with all different types of needs, but I think making sure we’re taking time to be intentional with how we include people,” Sandler said, “I think using most awareness weeks, months, and periodic times throughout the year for all different types of people is really important to be intentional about including those people and folks during that time.”

Currently there are posters and decorations around Penn High School celebrating the deaf community and their history. Make sure to check out the designs and information compiled by our own Penn ASL students. National Deaf Awareness Week ends on Sunday.