Celebrate International Week of the Deaf with NAD

Posted in: Inside TAD, TAD Announcements by TAD Administration on September 21, 2010 | 0 Comments

NAD E-newsletter 

Celebrate International Week of the Deaf with NAD  

International Week of the Deaf (IWD) is celebrated annually during the  last full  week of September. IWD this year is observed during September  20-26, 2010, with  celebrations by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD),  the National Association  of the Deaf (NAD), as well as national associations  of the deaf and individuals  worldwide.  (www.wfdeaf.org and www.nad.org)  

WFD has encouraged its national members to focus on deaf education, which   continues to be one of the most contested issues in the history of deaf people   worldwide. WFD now calls upon individuals to sign an official "New Era" petition that calls upon all nations and people of the world to remember history and  ensure  that educational programmes accept and respect all languages, including  sign languages,  and all forms of communication. To sign the petition, please  visit: www.petitions24.com/wfd  

On July 19, 2010 the International Congress on the Education of the Deaf (ICED)  opened its  21st Congress in Vancouver, British Columbia with a historic "New  Era" programme that formally  rejected the resolutions passed at its 2nd Congress  (also known as the 1880 Milan Congress) that  discouraged the use of sign  language in the education of the deaf and employment of deaf educators  and  professionals. Click the links below to learn more about action taken by the  NAD, links to the  resultant ICED press release, introduction, and statement of  principle and accord for the future, as  well as an update following the  congress. (www.nad.org/news/2010/7/nad-elated-iced-rejection-1880-milan-congress-resolutions)(www.nad.org/blogs/bobbie-bethscoggins/nad-requests-iced-recognize-sign-language-human-right)  (nad.org/blogs/james-tucker/iced-2010-update)

Established in the same year as the 1880 Milan Congress, the NAD was shaped by  deaf leaders who believed  in the right of the American deaf community to use  sign language, to congregate on issues important to them,  and to have its  interests represented at the national level. These beliefs remain true to this  day, with  American Sign Language as a core value.  

Representatives from the NAD recently took part in DeaFestival in Horse Cave, KY  and will take part in several  events in observance of International Week of the  Deaf (IWD):      

* "Renaissance of the Deaf" - 125th Anniversary Celebration activities  sponsored by the Minnesota Association  of Deaf Citizens, September 24-October 2,  2010 in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area. (www.minndeaf.org/125years/)  To  see congratulatory letter by NAD President Bobbie Beth Scoggins, click:  www.nad.org/sites/default/files/Scoggins  MADC 125th Anniversary letter.pdf     

* "Label Us Able - Respect diversity and free the full potential of all  individuals" seminar on September 22, 2010 as  a side event to the United Nations  General Assembly in New York City, NY, sponsored by the Ministry for Foreign  Affairs  of Finland, which will feature an ASL rap performance by Signmark.   (www.signmark.biz/site/en/home)   

* Signmark will also give a free performance during the "Silent Shout"  public flash mob event at 5:00 pm on September 23,  2010 at Washington Square  Park in New York City, NY. Be sure to attend so that you can sign along, in  chorus line format! (www.mysilentshout.com)  

The NAD also wishes to also recognize the many International Week of the Deaf  (also known as Deaf Awareness Week) activities  hosted by state associations of  the deaf and community organizations across the nation. Celebrations are also  held throughout  the year in the United States of America.   

-- The National Association of the Deaf 

8630 Fenton Street, Suite 820 

Silver Spring, MD 20910-3819 

United States