Dancing Hands: Sign Language Learning Center
Share
Ever want to learn Sign Language? Don't know where to start? At Dancing Hands, you will get one on
Day 23 of Deaf Awareness Month! Today is International Day of Sign Languages!!!!!!!!!
The theme for the 2026 International Day of Sign Languages is Declaring Deaf People's Human Rights.
International Day of Sign Languages was established by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2017 and first celebrated on September 23, 2018. Every year the Deaf/HoH around the world celebrate :D
Why the 23rd of September? To commemorate the exact date the WFD, World Federation of the Deaf, which was founded in 1951 of September 23rd.
What's the goal or purpose of this day? To raise global awareness about the vital importance of sign languages, protecting the human rights of the Deaf/HoH community, and maintaining linguistic diversity.
Day 22 of Deaf Awareness Month! Let's learn about this awesome week...International Deaf Week of the Deaf!
What is International Deaf Week of the Deaf???? It's an annual global celebration that takes place during the last full week of September to promote the human rights, culture, and achievements of the Deaf community. Every day there are different themes that is celebrated and to promote awareness within the Deaf/HoH communities.
This year MAIN theme for this year is: Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights!
Day 21 of Deaf Awareness Month! Let's talk about why the Deaf/HoH community likes Starbucks.
Did you know that Starbucks is a BIG supporter of the Deaf/HoH community?!?
They are the first company to hire Deaf/HoH to offer their lobby for Deaf/HoH social events to take place. They are the first company to put a camera in their drive-thru to help with ordering for the Deaf/HoH and Signing communities. They offer workshops to teach Sign Language and how to work with a Deaf/HoH employee.
There are over 20 different Signing Store locations in different countries! We have one here in the USA in Washington D.C. on H street.
Day 20 of Deaf Awareness Month! Let's learn about a phrase that is used a lot in the Deaf/HoH community....Deaf Gain!
What does that mean?
Deaf Gain is a concept based on the idea that Deafness is not a disability, but an identity and culture that offers unique perspectives and potential. Deaf Gain reframes being Deaf from a loss to a gain and suggests multiple ways in which Deaf people contribute to the diversity of the world.
How should Hearing Non Disabled and Disabled see Deaf Gain?
Rather than viewing Deafness as something to be fixed or cured, view it as something that can offer unique contributions and benefits to our society.
Day 19 of Deaf Awareness Month! Today is Batman Day and to celebrate let's combine the two with something you didn't know!
Did you know there is an animated short and comic-style vignette features Batman rescuing a Deaf child from a truck accident, using sign language and gestures to comfort him, helping track down the boy's stolen dog, Buster, and bringing the dog back to the Deaf child. Its very cute story!
Did you know that in the Batman series and video game there are TWO Deaf villains, Shriek and Man-Bat.
Day 18 of Deaf Awareness Month! Let's learn about inaccessibility in the Deaf/HoH community when it comes to Media and Information Technology.
Roughly 71% of Deaf individuals report feeling left out of the digital world due to persistent barriers. Below are some of the major barriers that have been reported:
1. The Captions Crisis
a. Missing Captions: Major platforms and social media content creators routinely upload audio-visual media without any captions at all. We hate that as Deafies!
b. The "Auto-Caption" Fallacy: While automated speech-to-text has advanced, auto-captions frequently lack context, garble words, and miss speaker distinctions, rendering critical tutorials or informational videos incoherent. Instagram and TikTok have AWFUL Auto Captions and We hate when Hearies just tell us to use it instead of adding captions to their videos.
c. Live Media Lag: Real-time captioning during emergency broadcasts, live sports, or streams suffers from severe latency. A time delay in captions means Deaf/HoH users receive critical updates long after their Hearing peers. It's very annoying!
2. Marginalization of Sign Language Users
a. Lack of SL Interpretation: Written text is NOT a direct substitute for Sign Language. For many culturally Deaf individuals, Sign Language is our first and preferred language, while written text is a second language.
Day 17 of Deaf Awareness Month! Let's learn more about Deaf Etiquette! How do you get a Deaf/HoH person attention? Many Hearing people think it's difficult to get a Deaf/HoH person's attention because they are dependent on verbalizing and relying on their ears. However, a Deaf/HoH person is dependent on their eyes and touch.
Here are several ways to get the attention of a Deaf/HoH person's attention:
*Wave Hand: Wave your hand in the sight of their vision.
*Tap Gently: Tap the person's shoulder or upper arm.
*Vibrate Surfaces: Gently thump a table or stomp your foot on the floor so they can feel the vibration.
*Flick the lights: Turning the lights on and off is a quick way to get their attention as well as group of Deaf/HoH people.
FYI: If you're Neurodivergent, you are welcome to use these ways as well :D
Day 16 of the Deaf Awareness Month! Let's learn about Deaf/HoH Etiquette :D
Speaking instead of signing in the presence of a Deaf/HoH person especially when you know American Sign Language (ASL) or Sign Language is EXTREMELY IMPOLITE AND OFFENSIVE within the Deaf/HoH Community.
In the Deaf/HoH community, when you are in the Deaf space aka around a Deaf/HoH person or group, you are to use ASL or Sign Language. When you are no longer in the Deaf space then you are allowed to verbalize. This is why Deaf/HoH and Hearing ASL instructors and professors tell ASL students don't speak when you attend Deaf/HoH events.
When you speak only in Deaf spaces, you ignoring the Deaf/HoH person's or group's accessibility and inclusion. Typically I've seen this behavior when the Hearing signer wants to talk negatively about a Deaf/HoH person. I've seen it happened more times I can count and it has happened to me as a Deaf person more times I can count as well. How do I know you ask? Technology is such a beautiful thing :D My phone and tablet tells me exactly what you said when you think I'm just scrolling on my phone or tablet :D
Day 15 of Deaf Awareness Month! Let's learn about American Sign Language, ASL, recognition of being a language. FYI: there are still scholars, linguistics, and schools that reject that ASL is a language.
1817: The first Deaf school was established in the USA by Thomas Gallaudet and a French Deaf man, Laurent Clerc. These two are also responsible with the origins of ASL.
1864: President Abraham Lincoln signed the charter for Gallaudet University, the world's first advanced school for the Deaf, implicitly validating the Deaf/HoH and Signing community.
1960: William Stokoe published the linguistic proof that ASL is a fully formed language.
1965: Stokoe, Dorothy Casterline, and Carl Croneberg published A Dictionary of American Sign Language on Linguistic Principles, cementing its academic status.
1908s: Educational institutions and mainstream society widely accepted ASL as a legitimate language following two decades of Stokoe's advocacy.
1999: ASL achieved broader legal recognition under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as an official instructional language for Deaf students.
Day 14 of Deaf Awareness Month! Let's learn about an important and ongoing problem in the Deaf/HoH community.
Language Deprivation!
Language deprivation is the chronic lack of full access to a natural language during the critical developmental window of early childhood. This issue affects roughly 70% of Deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) children, leading to lifelong cognitive, social, and emotional challenges. This is worst with Black and Brown Deaf and HoH children.
Causes
Hearing parents: Most DHH children are born to Hearing parents (over 90%) who do not learn sign language at birth.
Audio-only focus: Medical systems often push hearing aids or cochlear implants while excluding natural signed languages.
Education System: Schools not providing accommodations for DHH students, not hiring qualified DHH teachers, and/or don't have enough funding to support such as Title 1 Schools.
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.