If you’ve ever wondered when the Deaf community and hearing-health organisations “turn the volume up” on awareness, education and advocacy, there are a few anchor dates that come up every year. These observances matter because they’re not just calendar events — they’re prompts to check our hearing, improve access (captions, Auslan/BSL/ASL, interpreters), and support Deaf culture and sign language rights.
Here’s a practical, guide to the key dates that are commonly recognised in Australia, the UK, the US, and Canada, plus what they mean for everyday life.
The three big global observances (relevant everywhere)
World Hearing Day — 3 March (every year)
Run by the World Health Organisation, World Hearing Day shines a spotlight on prevention, early identification, and access to ear and hearing care worldwide. World Health Organization
International Week of Deaf People — last full week of September
In 2025, that week is 22–28 September and is promoted globally by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD). World Federation of the Deaf
International Day of Sign Languages — 23 September (every year)
Proclaimed by the United Nations, it celebrates sign languages and raises awareness of their importance for Deaf people’s rights and inclusion. United Nations
Australia: the key week for the Deaf community celebration
National Week of Deaf People (NWDP) — aligns with IWDP
In Australia, NWDP typically mirrors the global dates and themes. For 2025: 22–28 September, Deaf Australia explicitly aligns NWDP with WFD’s IWDP themes. Deaf Australia+1
What this means locally: you’ll often see Auslan-focused events, community celebrations, advocacy messages, and practical prompts for accessibility (captions, communication access, interpreters).
United Kingdom: a major additional awareness week in May
Deaf Awareness Week (UK) — first full week of May
In 2025, it runs 5–11 May, with the theme “Beyond Silence” (widely referenced by UK organisations). bda.org.uk+1
Why it’s useful even if you’re in Australia: it’s a reminder that “hearing loss awareness” isn’t only September — and that access and inclusion should be year-round.
United States: September is commonly marked as Deaf Awareness Month
In the US, September is widely recognised as Deaf (or D/deaf) Awareness Month, with many organisations also scheduling a Deaf Awareness Week within the month (dates vary by group and year). disabilityrightsca.org+1
Canada: global September dates are widely promoted
Canadian organisations commonly participate in the global September observances, including IWDP and the International Day of Sign Languages. cad-asc.ca+1
How to participate (without being performative)
You don’t need a slideshow and a hashtag strategy to make these dates meaningful. A handful of real-life actions go a long way:
Turn captions on (and keep them on).
Learn a few basics in your local sign language (in Australia: Auslan).
Ask about communication preferences (especially in healthcare, education and customer service).
Book a hearing check if you’ve been “getting by” — early changes can be subtle.
Parents: if your child has had repeated ear infections or glue ear, consider a hearing assessment — hearing affects speech, learning, and confidence.
At The Audiology Place, we like these observances because they create a natural moment to do two things at once: support Deaf culture and sign language rights, and encourage people with hearing concerns to get timely, evidence-based care (without the panic, upsell, or stigma).
