Posted On: 2024-05-10 11:51:51
The first full week of May is annually marked as Deaf Awareness Week (DAW). This year it falls on 6th to 12th May. The purpose of the week is to help break down communication barriers and encourage better communication between deaf and hearing individuals.
Workshops, panels and forums are held around the world on this day to encourage the use of sign language and make public facilities accessible to the hearing impaired.
To observe Deaf Awareness Week, we are going to detail how you can make the life of the hearing impaired around you better.
Some deaf people carry cards to help people communicate with them, but you can make it easier for them by making the effort to learn sign language. This would make them feel loved, appreciated and more comfortable. Every culture has its own sign language. So it’s important to learn your culture’s specific language. Online courses are available, which can help you learn sign language.
It is a common misconception that all deaf people prefer sign language. However, this is not true as some might prefer lip-reading, writing, or using assistive technology like text-based communication or video relay services. The reason could vary from cultural background to losing hearing later in life.
While it is important to respect everyone’s personal space, for deaf people it is extremely important as it becomes a hindrance to communication. If you stand too close, it becomes difficult to read your lips and gestures, which makes interaction harder than it should be.
Modern technology has been helpful to the deaf community. So make sure to use them to make the lives of deaf people easier. Use captions while creating videos and make sure to have a sign language interpreter while holding public gatherings, to ensure that they don’t feel left out.
Finally, there is no better way to help the deaf community than to educate yourself about deaf culture and others around you. You can advocate for making your office or educational institution more accessible to them and take the initiative to make people aware of how to communicate with them.
Filaantro raises money for hearing aids for deaf people and even provides funds for NGOs seeking to help the deaf. Make sure to reach out to us, if you or someone you know wants to raise funds for any problem pertaining to the deaf community.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Make sure to share it with all your friends and family members. Share it on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp to make people aware and educate them.
AUTHOR: Adil Sayyad
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