International Day of Sign Languages 2022: Theme, significance - All you need to know

International Day of Sign Languages is observed for a week in September every year. It is an opportunity to support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all deaf people and other sign language users.  

The International Week of the Deaf was first celebrated in September 1958 and has since evolved into a global movement of deaf unity and concerted advocacy to raise awareness of the issues deaf people face in their everyday lives.  

There are more than 70 million deaf people worldwide, according to the World Federation of the Deaf. More than 80% of them live in developing countries. Collectively, they use more than 300 different sign languages.

Sign languages are fully fledged natural languages, structurally distinct from spoken languages. There is also an international sign language, which is used by deaf people in international meetings and informally when traveling and socializing. It is considered a pidgin form of sign language that is not as complex as natural sign languages and has a limited lexicon.

International Day of Sign Languages 2022 Theme

This year’s theme for the International Day of Sign Languages is “Building Inclusive Communities for All”

Sign languages daily themes

• Monday 19 September 2022 - Sign Languages in Education
• Tuesday 20 September 2022 - Sustainable economic opportunities for deaf people
• Wednesday 21 September 2022 - Health for All
• Thursday 22 September 2022 - Safeguarding deaf people in times of crisis
• Friday 23 September 2022 - Sign Languages Unite Us!
• Saturday 24 September 2022 - Intersectional Deaf Communities
• Sunday 25 September 2022 - Deaf Leadership for Tomorrow