Deaf actor joins ‘New Amsterdam’
August 30, 2021
Nyle DiMarco, other deaf actors to star in sports drama ‘Flash Before the Bang’
September 3, 2021Celebrating Deaf Awareness Month this September
Living life with hearing loss can come with its challenges, but through advocacy, support, therapies and technology, we can support a world where hearing loss isn’t an obstacle.
This September, we’re celebrating Deaf Awareness Month to commemorate and celebrate the various D/deaf communities around the world, with the theme “Celebrating Thriving Deaf Communities.”
Deaf Awareness Month 2021
Deaf Awareness Month, an initiative of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) corresponds with International Week of the Deaf People 2021 and International Day of Sign Languages 2021.
First celebrated in 1958, the annual events aim to increases awareness and advocacy among all people with hearing loss. The daily themes for Deaf Awareness Month 2021 are:
What you can do during Deaf Awareness Month
According to the World Health Organization, more than 5% of the world’s population has ‘disabling’ hearing loss, which requires rehabilitation, support and/or advocacy. Additionally, more than 1 billion young adults are at risk of permanent hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices. It is estimated that more than 700 million people – or 1/10 people – will have disabling hearing loss by 2050.
When unaddressed, hearing loss can impact individuals in various ways, including their communication and speech, cognition, education and employment opportunities, social isolation, and mental health.
Read more: Study: The impact of hearing loss on mental health
To support those with hearing loss around the world, you can take action into your own hands. Here are a few things you can do during Deaf Awareness Month
What you can do during Deaf Awareness Month:
- Learn sign language
- Share stories from deaf creators
- Support deaf businesses
- Learn about d/Deaf culture
- Join a d/Deaf group (ie: Phonak hEARos)
- Advocate deaf accessibility at work and in your community
- Volunteer at non-profits, civil liberties groups, or school for the Deaf
- Contact you representatives to support the rights of deaf people through legislation
Celebrating Deaf Awareness Month
To celebrate Deaf Awareness Month 2021, we at HearingLikeMe.com will be covering a broad range of topics, aligned with the daily themes. Look for news throughout the month, including new article every day during the International Week of the Deaf People (Sept. 20-26).
On social media, we will share some of our favorite quotes about hearing loss, advocacy tips, personal stories and sharable graphics.
Join us on Instagram @hearinglikeme_ and on Facebook.
