September is National Deaf Awareness Month, which also highlights the International Day of Sign Languages on September 23rd and the International Week of the Deaf during the final days of September. Throughout the month of September, individuals and organizations have the opportunity to promote and celebrate the deaf community and their experiences.
The deaf community encompasses a wide range of individuals who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing from across all ages and backgrounds. Deaf Awareness Month was created to honor the Deaf culture, highlight its achievements, and recognize decades of advocacy.
Successful Methods for Deaf Advocacy
Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals often face hardships when trying to communicate effectively with hearing individuals. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was designed to ensure that individuals with disabilities are treated equally through laws and regulations. However, the full promise of the ADA remains unrealized, and there are many times when D/deaf individuals still encounter injustices in any type of situation.
For Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals:
Request specific accommodations — interpreter or communication technology
Understand your rights — inform yourself of federal, state, and local laws and regulations
Help educate others — provide learning opportunities for people
Be flexible — show kindness and a willingness to make compromises where needed
For hearing allies:
Sign up for an American Sign Language (ASL) class in your local area
Support D/deaf businesses and organizations
Volunteer and engage with D/deaf community leaders and participants
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD), which focuses on civil rights advocacy for the D/deaf community, has upcoming conferences where you can get involved. In fall 2025, NAD has a leadership training conference in Austin, Texas, and then in spring 2026, a biennial conference in San Francisco, California. Consider attending one of these conferences where you can participate in workshops, engage in learning, and connect with others. You will need to become a member of NAD before you can register and attend one of their conferences.
Notable Deaf Individuals
American educator, Andrew Foster, was the first Black Deaf individual to earn a bachelor’s degree from Gallaudet University, a private university located in Washington, D.C. that was founded in 1864 for the education of deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Foster pioneered D/deaf education in Africa, helping to establish 31 schools for the D/deaf and is considered the “father of deaf education in Africa.”
Helen Keller was an American author and activist who was deaf and blind. With the help of a teacher named, Anne Sullivan, Keller was able to learn how to read Braille and communicate with a specialized typewriter. She became an advocate for the blind and woman’s suffrage movement, and co-founded the American Civil Liberties Union.
The first Deaf major-league baseball player, Dummy Hoy, played center field for the Cincinnati Reds among other teams between 1888 and 1902. Hoy was instrumental in creating many of the hand signals that are used today by baseball players, coaches, and umpires for strikes, balls, and outs.
Marlee Matlin is one of the most famous American D/deaf actresses working today. When she was just 23 years old, Matlin received a Best Actress Academy Award for her debut performance as Sarah in the 1986 film, Children of a Lesser God. She has starred in television and written several novels. Matlin continues to serve as an activist for D/deaf individuals working in Hollywood and other industries.
Ludwig van Beethoven, one of the most influential composers in history, began losing his hearing in his late 20s and was almost completely deaf by the time he composed many of his most celebrated works, including Symphony No.9. Despite this challenge, his music reshaped classical composition and continues to inspire the world. Thomas Edison, the American inventor best known for developing the phonograph and the electric light bulb, also experienced significant hearing loss early in life. Edison often credited his partial deafness with allowing him to focus more deeply on his work, leading to more than 1,000 patents that transformed modern technology.
How Can You Support Deaf Awareness Month?
Check out your local organizations, like Disability Rights California or NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, to find out more about any planned Deaf Awareness Month events or programs in your area. The Deaf Organizations Fund is a national directory where you can search and find Deaf-centric organizations near you.
Other ways to support include:
Posting on your social media accounts using awareness hashtags
Paying tribute to individuals in your school or local community
Ensuring planned events are accessible and inclusive.
Deaf Organizations and Resources
There are many organizations that support the Deaf community. Below are a just few examples. You can learn more about the organizations’ advocacy through their publications, programs, conferences, and events that help expand awareness of deaf culture:
Celebrate Deaf Awareness Month with us. A donation to Ability Central ensures we can continue funding programs and resources that make communication and access more equitable for all.
Additional Information
The content provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for legal, medical, or other professional advice. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date resources, some information may become outdated or incomplete. Always consult with your provider about personal medical concerns.
