International Day of Sign Languages

Categories:: Cause
Tags:: Awareness Educational
Where:: International
Date change rule:: Every September 23
Holiday emoji:: 🤟

International Day of Sign Languages lights up the calendar every September 23, recognizing the unique linguistic identity and cultural diversity of deaf people globally. This day, proclaimed by the United Nations, highlights the importance of sign languages as natural languages. Learn a few basic signs, advocate for accessibility, and support organizations working to empower deaf communities.

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Expected International Day of Sign Languages Deals

For International Day of Sign Languages, the focus shifts from commercial deals to advocacy and fundraising. Organizations like the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) often launch awareness campaigns and solicit donations. Corporations like Apple, Google, and Microsoft highlight their ongoing accessibility features and may offer educational resources. Look for universities and local deaf community centers to host free sign language workshops or information sessions. We will update this page with confirmed live initiatives as September 23 approaches.

Platform Guide for International Day of Sign Languages

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #SignLanguagesDay. Share short videos of yourself learning basic signs or spotlighting deaf creators.

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #SignLanguageRights. Join conversations about linguistic rights for deaf people and share accessibility resources.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #IDSL. Share personal stories or educational posts about the importance of sign languages.

International Day of Sign Languages Hero

Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet

Born in 1787, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet was a pioneer in American deaf education. He traveled to Europe to learn methods for teaching deaf children and, upon his return, co-founded the American Asylum for Deaf-Mutes (now the American School for the Deaf) in 1817 in Hartford, Connecticut. His work laid the foundation for formal sign language education in the United States, greatly influencing the development of American Sign Language (ASL).

History of International Day of Sign Languages

Sign languages are visual languages that transmit messages. It is unknown how many of these languages exist on the globe. In general, each country has its own sign language. Some countries, in fact, have more than one. You might be interested in learning more about sign languages’ history. These languages have been used by deaf people throughout history. In reality, Plato’s Cratylus, published in the 15th century BC, has one of the oldest recorded accounts of sign language.

Socrates says the following in this context: “If we didn’t have a voice or a tongue and wanted to communicate with one another, wouldn’t we try to make signals by moving our hands, heads, and the rest of our bodies, much like stupid people do now?”

Not much was known about historical sign languages until the 19th century. The data was restricted to fingerspelling systems, often known as manual alphabets. These were created to translate words from a spoken language to a sign language. Pedro Ponce de Leon is considered to have invented the first manual alphabet.

This is one of the fewer recent days that is observed throughout the world, with the inaugural International Day of Sign Languages occurring on September 23, 2018. The date was chosen since it marks the anniversary of the founding of the World Federation of the Deaf in 1951. Every year the day has a new theme. In 2018, for example, the subject was “With Sign Language, Everyone Is Included.”

The topic for 2019 was “Sign Language Rights for All!” It is good to learn about the topic each year, since it can help you learn about alternative methods to mark the day. For example, in 2019, knowing about the many rights of individuals who use sign language would have been an excellent approach to broaden your knowledge and raise awareness. In fact, nothing prevents you from doing so right now!

International Day of Sign Languages timeline

500 B.C.

First Written Records

Plato's Cratylus has one of the oldest recorded accounts of sign language.

60 A.D.

First Use

Sign language is used for the first time; according to the first chapter of Luke's Gospel, the angel Gabriel rendered Zacharias, John the Baptist's father, speechless due to his disbelief.

685 A.D.

First Class

When John of Beverley, Bishop of York, teaches a deaf individual to talk in sign language, it is considered a miracle, and he was subsequently canonized.

1760

First Deaf School

Before l'Abbé Charles Michel de l'Épée founded his deaf school in Paris, with his teachings based on his observations of deaf individuals communicating with their hands in Parisian streets.

How Businesses Can Celebrate International Day of Sign Languages

Local businesses can honor International Day of Sign Languages by investing in accessibility. Consider offering basic sign language training to customer-facing staff, or partnering with a local deaf community organization to host an awareness event. Restaurants could include a QR code on menus linking to a video of staff signing common phrases like ‘hello’ or ‘thank you.’ Retailers might highlight products from deaf-owned businesses or donate a portion of sales to a deaf advocacy group.

International Day of Sign Languages FAQs

When is International Day of Sign Languages?

International Day of Sign Languages 2026 falls on Wednesday, September 23. This day highlights the importance of sign languages worldwide as natural languages.

How many people use sign languages globally?

According to the World Federation of the Deaf, approximately 72 million deaf individuals globally use over 300 distinct sign languages. This figure underscores the vast linguistic diversity within the deaf community.

What is the history behind International Day of Sign Languages?

The United Nations proclaimed September 23 as the International Day of Sign Languages in 2017, commemorating the founding of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) on that date in 1951. The day aims to raise awareness and promote the status of sign languages.

Is International Sign Language the same as ASL?

International Sign Language (IS) is a pidgin form used in international settings, distinct from national sign languages like American Sign Language (ASL), which has its own unique grammar and vocabulary. IS is a contact language, not a formal, fully developed language.

How To Observe International Day of Sign Languages

Learn a sign language
Learning sign language is one of the greatest ways to commemorate this day! There are several excellent resources available online to assist you with this. Learning to welcome someone in sign language may make a huge impact. Consider how fantastic you might make someone feel by simply going out of your way to learn their language and greeting them in a way that they can comprehend.
Join in creating awareness
Raising awareness is another way to commemorate International Day of Sign Languages! Many individuals are unaware of the many sign languages. They are also unaware of the number of people who rely on sign languages throughout the world. On this day, take it upon yourself to educate others.
Host a fundraising event
There are several ways to get involved, ranging from bake sales to sponsored races. Events are an excellent way to raise funds while also spreading the word about sign languages. You should also make use of social media to generate interest in the event you're planning.

5 Awesome Facts About Sign Languages That Will Blow Your Mind

Fourth most used language in the U.K.
Over 125,000 adults in the United Kingdom use British Sign Language, and many more know how to communicate with it — British Sign Language is the primary language of 15,000 individuals in England and Wales.
Different countries have their own versions
Despite the fact that both the United Kingdom and the United States speak English, their sign languages are extremely different — regional differences in sign language can also be discovered, similar to how accents and dialects are represented in speech.
It uses more than just hand gestures
British Sign Language, in addition to ‘signs,’ uses facial expressions, gestures, and body language to communicate — sign language has its own grammatical system, which has distinct sentence patterns than spoken English.
Deaf people have ‘name signs’
Many people who communicate using sign language use a single sign to indicate their name rather than signing out the separate letters — this 'name sign' is personal to the individual and is similar to a nickname.
It isn’t as difficult to learn as it looks
Sign language appears to be a difficult means of communication, but there is a reason why it is used by so many people all over the world: learning it is very simple if you have the proper teacher and are taught in the correct manner.

Why We Love Sign Languages

Important for deaf people
Of course, we can't overlook the most obvious reason why sign languages are fantastic. Many deaf and hard-of-hearing people rely heavily on sign languages as a means of communication. Sign languages are the native languages of deaf people, and they provide full communication access. Although sign languages are predominantly used by the deaf, they are also utilized by others who can hear but cannot speak.
More expressive
Sign languages include the movement of a person's arms, body, and facial expressions as well as the movement of their hands. In sign languages, facial expressions can convey both emotion and grammatical information. For example, raising and lowering one's brows can transform the syntax of a sentence from a statement to an inquiry.
Listening with your eyes
People who are fluent in sign language are frequently considerably better listeners. When utilizing sign language, one must maintain consistent eye contact with the person communicating. Unlike spoken language, sign languages do not allow a person to turn aside from the person speaking while still listening. This can be a very advantageous habit to develop for both spoken language and sign language. Maintaining eye contact when speaking demonstrates that a person is really interested in what the other person is saying.