All month long, communities across the U.S. are uplifting ASL, celebrating Deaf achievements, and advocating for equal access in schools, workplaces, and public spaces.

How it started:

• 1958: International Day of the Deaf

• Expanded to International Week of the Deaf
  

• Today: Observed all September, with International Week in the last week of the month
  

Here are a few ASL letters you can learn — the image above shows how to sign LOVE.

Learn ASL at UMBC:

• American Sign Language (ASL) will fulfill UMBC’s GEP language requirement.
  

• Courses are offered every semester: fall, winter, spring, and summer.
  

• Courses include: ASL 101, ASL 102, and ASL 201.
  

ASL is a visual language that uses hand, facial, and body movements to communicate. Sign language promotes communication with the Deaf community and can help babies communicate sooner and better. It can also boost effective brain function and link the mind and body in ways that other languages do not. It’s the sixth most common language in the United States.

Let’s celebrate, learn, and advocate—this month and beyond.