Every year on the last Sunday of September, the International Day of the Deaf is celebrated. This year, the day falls on September 28. It aims to draw public attention to the problems of people with hearing impairments, emphasize their rights and opportunities, and promote their integration into society.
International Day of the Deaf was established in 1951 by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD). The first celebration of this date took place at the first WFD World Congress in Rome, Italy.
The International Day of the Deaf is an opportunity to recall the challenges faced by people with hearing impairments. In a world where sound plays a key role in communication, deaf people often feel isolated. Barriers to education, employment and social interaction are just the tip of the iceberg. This day calls for action: to create accessible environments, fight discrimination and support initiatives that help integrate deaf people into society.
For many deaf people, this date is also a moment of pride. They do not want to be perceived as "limited" or "sick". For them, deafness is a part of their identity, and sign language is not just a tool, but a real culture, rich in expressiveness and depth. By celebrating this day, we learn to see not only the difficulties, but also the uniqueness of the deaf community.
The life of a person with a hearing impairment is often like a journey through a maze, where every turn hides new obstacles. The most common problem is lack of access to information. Imagine how difficult it is to understand what is happening if there are no subtitles, sign language interpreters, or even simple visual cues in public places. In many countries, deaf people face limitations in education: not all schools have specialized programs, and teachers rarely know sign language.
Another challenge is stereotypes. Some people mistakenly believe that deafness automatically means intellectual disability or inability to live independently. Such prejudices create barriers to employment: employers may avoid hiring deaf people for fear of "difficulties". But the reality is different - with the right support, these people can achieve impressive success in any field.
There are many famous people with hearing impairments. For example, everyone knows the composer Beethoven, the writer Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the artist Antonio Stanioli, and the writer Victor Hugo. Among the prominent Ukrainians of our time are Andriy Pyshnyi, Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, who at the age of 34 partially lost his hearing as a result of a car accident, founded the NGO Vidchui to help people with hearing impairments and actively promotes the idea of an inclusive society; Ivan Ursatii, a Bukovyna resident who in December 2024 became a world karate champion among athletes with hearing impairments. Despite his complete lack of hearing, he began studying martial arts at the age of 8. At the age of 16, he won the Ukrainian championship, and at 21, he became a world champion. The community of people with hearing impairments in Ukraine is active and has its own organizations and achievements in various fields. These people have made a great contribution to the cultural heritage of mankind.
At the same time, one of the key goals of the International Day of the Deaf is to fight for the recognition of sign language. For many deaf people, sign language is not only a way of communication, but also a symbol of their culture. It unites and gives a sense of belonging to the community. Unfortunately, in some countries it is still not officially recognized, which limits access to education and services.
In 2006, Ukrainian sign language was granted the status of a national minority language in Ukraine. In the same year, the Sign Language Laboratory at the Institute of Special Pedagogy of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine was established to develop Ukrainian sign language. Since January 2018, this unit has been renamed the Department of Sign Language Education at the Mykola Yarmachenko Institute of Special Pedagogy and Psychology of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine.
