International Sign (IS) is a pidgin sign language which is used in a variety of different contexts, particularly as an international auxiliary language at meetings such as the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) congress, in some European Union settings, and at some UN conferences, at events such as the Deaflympics, the Miss & Mister Deaf World, and Eurovision, and informally when travelling and socialising.
The history of deaf people and deaf culture make up deaf history. The Deaf culture is a culture that is centered on sign language and relationships among one another. Unlike other cultures the Deaf culture is not associated with any native land as it is a global culture. By some, deafness may be viewed as a disability, but the Deaf world sees itself as a language minority. Throughout the years many accomplishments have been achieved by deaf people. To name the most famous, Ludwig van Beethoven and Thomas Alva Edison were both deaf and contributed great works to culture.
The International Disability Alliance (IDA), created in 1999, is an umbrella organization focused on improving awareness and rights for individuals with disabilities around the globe. The IDA works with Non Governmental Organizations (NGO's), supranational organizations such as the United Nations (UN), as well as state governments in order to create legislation, fund disability programs in developing and industrialized countries, and advocate for people with disabilities around the world. The IDA works very closely with the United Nations, and in particular they use the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) as their code of conduct.
The European Union of the Deaf (EUD) is a supraorganization comprising each respective National Association of the Deaf of the member states of the European Union. The EUD is a nonprofit organization founded in 1985 and is a Regional Co-operating Member of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), a full member of the European Disability Forum (EDF) and has a participatory status with the Council of Europe (CoE). Ten countries were present at this meeting. During the assembly of October 10, 1994, the delegates of the deaf associations in Europe voted for a change of name: ECRS was thus replaced by the European Union of the Deaf (EUD).
Egyptian Sign Language is a sign language used by members of the deaf community in Egypt.
The National Deaf Federation Nepal is a non-governmental organization established and run as the umbrella organization for Nepal's various district and local deaf associations. Previously it was known as the National Federation of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NFDH). It is a member of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and works as an advocate for deaf rights, as well as running a number of programs throughout the country to improve the lives of Nepal's deaf population.
Emirati Sign Language has been developed by the Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination and is the first deaf sign language for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) dialect, and a unified reference language for those with hearing disabilities in the UAE. The UAE launched its first sign language dictionary in 2018, while the first dictionary of Unified Arabic Sign Language was released in 2001. The dictionary was compiled by eight authorities with the help of 60 people with hearing difficulties and sign language specialists from across the UAE, and is used to standardize the signs used by deaf people in the UAE. It includes details about the Emirati culture and heritage, such as traditional clothes, local food, and historical places, which was previously chosen, and is divided into many sections that cover topics such as numbers, countries, family, and religion.
The Italian National Agency for the protection and assistance of the Deaf (ENS) is an Italian non-governmental organization that acts as a peak body for national associations of Deaf people, with a focus on Deaf people who use sign language and their family and friends. ENS aims to promote the Human Rights of Deaf Italians, by working closely with Italy. ENS is also a member of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and European Union of the Deaf.
The Norwegian Association of the Deaf is a national organisation for the deaf and sign language users in Norway.
The World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI) is an international organization aimed at the promotion of the profession of sign language interpretation.
Cesare Magarotto (1917-2006) was one of the founders of World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), its first General Secretary (1951–1987) and the son of Antonio Magarotto, the founder of the Italian National Agency for the Deaf (ENS).
Antonio Magarotto was an Italian educator, founder of the Ente Nazionale Sordi (ENS) and rector of the Padua Deaf institute. His son Cesare Magarotto founded the World Federation of the Deaf.
Humberto Insolera is a deaf Italian politician, academic and advocate for the deaf and people with disabilities.
International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) is celebrated annually across the world on 23 September every year along with International Week of the Deaf.
International Week of the Deaf (IWDeaf) is celebrated annually across the world during the last full week of September since 2009. In 2018, it was celebrated together with the official International Day of Sign Languages, declared by the United Nations (UN), for the first time.The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), its national associations, and their affiliates all over the world observe International Week of the Deaf from Monday through Sunday, culminating in International Day of the Deaf on the final Sunday of the week.
Azerbaijani Sign Language is the sign language used by the deaf community in Azerbaijan. As with other sign languages, AİD has a unique grammar that differs from the oral languages used in the region. Although there are approximately 31,000 deaf people in Azerbaijan, most of them use Turkish Sign Language as their primary sign language. Azerbaijani Sign Language is not recognized as an official language by Azerbaijan, nor does not have any language codes.
Liisa Kauppinen is a Finnish human rights activist who lost her hearing as a child. After serving as executive director of the Finnish Association of the Deaf, in 1995 she became the first woman to be appointed President of the World Federation of the Deaf. She has contributed internationally to opportunities for women with disabilities while promoting the use of sign languages in connection with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In 2013, she was awarded the United Nations Human Rights Prize, the first Finn to receive the award. In 2015 the WFD established the Dr. Liisa Kauppinen Fund to honour her contributions and to fund activities focused on the empowerment of deaf girls and women. In 2019 she was the recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the Light of the World Group.
The Danish Deaf Association is a private advocacy group which works to ensure better living conditions for deaf people in Denmark. It campaigns for equality between deaf and hearing people in education, paid employment and accessibility, as well as the legal status and accessibility of Danish Sign Language.
Out of nearly 59 million people in Italy, about 3.5 million Italians have some form of hearing loss. Among them, around 70,000 people are severely deaf. The European Union for the Deaf reports that the majority of the deaf people in Italy use Italian Sign Language (LIS). LIS has been an official sign language in Italy since 2021. Italy, among other countries, ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and is slowly improving conditions for deaf humans in Italy. Many major organizations in Italy fight for deaf rights and spread awareness to the Italian National Agency for the protection and assistance of the Deaf and Associated Italian Families for the Defense of the Rights of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals (FIADDA). Newborns in Italy also receive universal hearing screenings. Education in Italy is directed towards oralism, although sign language is also used. LIS is a stable language and is used by approximately 40,000 users in Italy.
The Deaf flag is a flag that symbolises the Deaf community, and is used as a form of visibility for a socio-cultural minority that is often discriminated against in various areas.
