09/23/2025
๐ Today is the International Day of Sign Languages (September 23)!
A day to recognize, celebrate, and uplift sign languages and Deaf communities around the world.
Did you know?
๐ There are over 300 recognized sign languages globally.
๐ More than 70 million Deaf people use them as a primary means of communication.
๐ Sign languages are fully-fledged languages with their own grammar, syntax, and cultural significance โ not simply visual versions of spoken languages.
๐ Swipe to see the visual map โ this shows how sign languages are historically connected, often branching from a few root languages like French Sign Language (LSF), British Sign Language (BSL), and Austrian Sign Language. Yet, each has evolved uniquely, reflecting local culture, history, and Deaf community innovation.
๐ Why it matters:
Language is a human right. Sign languages are crucial for inclusion, education, political participation, and access to public life for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Whether itโs ASL, BSL, LSF, JSL, LIS, ISL, DGS, or any of the hundreds of others, today is a reminder to honor the diversity, history, and resilience of sign language users worldwide.
Sign languages = human rights.
Letโs build a world that celebrates communication in all its forms.
