Deaf Awareness Activities Expand Across UK, Australia, US Schools, Communities

Efforts to support deaf education and raise awareness about deaf culture and communication are being made worldwide. In Samoa, Australian couple Russell Watts and his wife significantly contributed to the development of deaf education and the national sign language movement starting in the 1980s, fostering a thriving deaf community and professional interpreter group. In the UK, schools and organizations have engaged in Deaf Awareness Week activities, including teaching British Sign Language (BSL) to lifeguards in Devon to improve water safety, and students in Newcastle educating local businesses on BSL to promote inclusivity. Western Primary School held an assembly featuring BSL performances and raised awareness about cochlear implants and hearing aids to support deaf and hard of hearing students. Similarly, students at the Illinois School for the Deaf participated in kindness activities to foster community spirit and empathy. These initiatives reflect a broader commitment to inclusivity, education, and empowerment within deaf communities globally.