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Deaf Awareness Month Activities, Resources, and Ideas for September
Image source: Public Domain / Deaf Awareness Month outreach asset. Used to highlight deaf awareness month activities in educational settings.
Teachers, families, and students can use Deaf Awareness Month activities to learn about Deaf history, communication, accessibility, and the many contributions of the Deaf community. September is Deaf Awareness Month, a time to celebrate Deaf culture, recognize the achievements of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, and promote inclusion in schools and communities.
Deaf Awareness Month Activities for Schools
Never before have we been this aware of the importance of students being exposed to multiple cultures. With the majority of students who are hard of hearing, deaf, and Deaf being educated in their neighborhood schools, the celebration of Deaf Awareness Month in September allows an opportunity for our students to be recognized in a positive way in their classrooms.
Why Deaf Awareness Month Activities Matter in Schools
Include:
- promoting inclusion
- building empathy
- understanding accessibility
- celebrating Deaf culture
- supporting deaf and hard-of-hearing students
- reducing misconceptions about hearing loss
Sept. is Deaf Awareness Month: Stuff to Use!
This article provides some resources to share with your students, their teachers, and peers.
Videos to Introduce Deaf Culture
- This infographic video shows a version of the origin of American Sign Language. It is an engaging introduction (although it is NOT captioned). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=betAZeKRpR8 (3:20)
- This video shows how the football huddle started with a deaf team from Gallaudet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4gi5ZhcS4I (1:16)
- 5 Myths About What It’s Like to Be Deaf. Provides good opportunities for discussion with your students. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YcGev7B5AA (6:15)
- Lou Ferrigno, the hard-of-hearing actor who played The Hulk, was interviewed after he received a cochlear implant in February 2021. From the ACI Alliance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhcvW9641z0&t=8s (20:13)
- The ‘Bad Lipreading’ NFL videos are always a fun way to show a short clip as an example of the challenge of relying on lipreading for understanding https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxdaYxunZXg (8.07)
Discussion Starters about Deafness and Hearing Loss
Hearing Like Me has written an article, “Deaf Awareness Month: 10 Things to Know About Being Deaf,” that provides information on things to know about individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing and also how to spread awareness regarding individuals who are D/HH (Guth, 2020). The 10 things are listed below. Go to the website link for further explanation of each point and more information.
Image Credit: iStock.com / VLADGRIN (Modified for site use)
10 Things to Know about Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing People
- If someone doesn’t respond to you, they most likely can’t hear you
- Every deaf person has their own preferred methods of communication and language
- Some deaf individuals may not identify as “Deaf.”
Read more: Celebrating the diversity of deafness - Social situations and various environments may be different for deaf individuals
- No two deaf people are alike
- Deaf does NOT mean “dumb.”
- Deaf people don’t often consider deafness as a disability
- Using hearing assistive technology is a personal choice
- Deafness is often invisible
- You don’t need to feel sorry for our deafness
Deaf History & Culture Lessons
Image Credit: Graphic template courtesy of Teachers Pay Teachers / Educational Resource Archive.
The Navigating Life with Hearing Loss Curriculum is an official Texas Education Agency (TEA) Approved Innovative Course (PEIMS Code: N1290330). Originally developed by the Texas Sensory Support Network at Education Service Center Region 11, in collaboration with the Texas Education Agency, this comprehensive program features 13 units designed to foster autonomy, including a dedicated segment on Deaf Culture and History.
The lesson frameworks include differentiated learning targets, targeted vocabulary, different teaching strategies, and direct access to external educational materials.
Unit Highlights: Deaf Culture and History
- Lesson 12.1 Past to Present
- Lesson 12.2 Important People in the Deaf Community
- Lesson 12.3 Support in the Deaf Community
Curriculum Access Links:
- View the official state educational standards and competencies via the TEA Innovative Course Outline.
- Access the complete worksheets, differentiated lesson targets, and multimedia assets directly within the Navigating Life with Hearing Loss LiveBinder Resource Library.
DeafTEC has created a four-unit STEM awareness curriculum for secondary teachers to guide students who are D/HH towards pursuing a career in STEM. In Unit 1, Lesson 3, titled Deaf People in STEM, YES!, students learn together about adults in STEM careers who are D/HH and then research one on their own.
Deaf Role Models Who Change the World
Image Credit: © Adonis1969 / Dreamstime.com
- The Deaf Scientist Corner (maintained by Texas Woman’s University) provides biographical profiles of deaf and hard-of-hearing innovators across multiple disciplines.
- Go to Famous Deaf People for a list of 15 deaf and hard-of-hearing people who changed the world.
- Google ‘famous deaf people’ to find many lists of accomplished people with hearing loss.
Image Credit: Vector artwork of supporting hands inside a circle via Vecteezy.
How Schools Can Promote Inclusion
Reach out to your local community and invite a variety of adults who are deaf or hard of hearing to present to your class in person. You can also invite them via video conferencing platforms such as Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, or even FaceTime.
10 Easy Deaf Awareness Month Activities
- Invite a deaf guest speaker
- Learn basic ASL signs
- Research famous deaf individuals
- Watch captioned Deaf culture videos
- Discuss communication access
- Read books featuring deaf characters
- Create Deaf Awareness posters
- Explore Deaf history
- Practice inclusive communication
- Celebrate student accomplishments
Frequently Asked Questions: Celebrating Deaf Awareness Month in Schools
What is Deaf Awareness Month, and when is it celebrated?
Deaf Awareness Month is observed annually throughout the entire month of September. Its core purpose is to increase awareness of Deaf culture, heritage, and language while promoting structural accessibility and celebrating the historical and contemporary contributions of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals globally.
What is the difference between “Deaf” and “deaf”?
This is a critical distinction that educators should introduce to their students. The capitalization carries distinct sociological and cultural meanings:
| Designation | Focus Area | Core Definition |
| Capital “D” (Deaf) | Cultural Identity | Refers to individuals who identify as members of the Deaf community, utilize American Sign Language (ASL) as their primary language, and view deafness as a distinct culture rather than a medical disability. |
| Lowercase “d” (deaf) | Audiological Status | Refers directly to the physical, medical condition of hearing loss without necessarily indicating a connection to or involvement with the linguistic Deaf community. |
What are the best Deaf Awareness Month activities for a mainstream classroom?
Teachers don’t need a massive budget to create a meaningful impact. High-engagement, skimmable classroom ideas include:
- Highlight Diverse Role Models: Introduce historical and modern leaders in STEM, sports, and arts (such as astronomer Annie Jump Cannon or modern deaf researchers).
- Demystify Classroom Technology: Turn device management into a positive science lesson by teaching the whole class how FM/DM Roger microphones, hearing aids, and cochlear implants function.
- Normalize Visual Communication: Introduce basic introductory ASL vocabulary, the fingerspelling alphabet, and the critical importance of keeping closed captioning turned on for all classroom media.
How can schools create actionable inclusion rather than just “awareness”?
- Normalize Closed Captioning:
- Step 1: Environmental Audit.
- Ensure a strict district policy mandating that every educational video, morning video announcement, and learning module has accurate, real-time closed captions activated.
- Teach Communication Repair Skills:
- Step 2: Social Integration.
- Educate hearing peers on basic, respectful communication repair strategies such as facing a person directly when speaking, avoiding covering the mouth, and rephrasing rather than loudly shouting a missed word.
- Elevate Deaf Voices:
- Step 3: Administrative Representation.
- Move past simulation activities (like using earplugs, which can create a negative “tragedy” narrative) and instead utilize Deaf-authored books, authentic videos, and guest speakers to frame deafness as a vibrant cultural identity.
Deaf Awareness Month Activities References:
- Resource Materials and Technology Center for the Deaf/Hard [RMTC-D/HH]. (2021). High-leverage practices for students with disabilities. Tech Notes.
- American Cochlear Implant Alliance
- Texas School for the Deaf Statewide Outreach Center. Through their updated web portal, you can easily navigate to specialized assets, including
- SOC Lesson Plans Library: Comprehensive classroom guides across math, science, and social studies that feature integrated sign language video translations.
- ASL Learning Tools: Interactive educational resources like the ASL Storytelling Library and Family Signs training modules.
- DeafTEC
Additional Resources:
Self-Advocacy Apps
Self-Advocacy as a Stand-Alone Service
The Ultimate Goal: Self-Determination
Teen Transition: A Necessary Part of Future Success
Don’t Wait, Self-Advocate! Self-Advocacy for Students with Hearing Loss
Self-Advocacy Skills Development for Full Classroom Participation
Teaching Self-Advocacy Skills for Students With Hearing Loss
Author: Karen L. Anderson, PhD
Click here to download the original article.
Originally published: Sept. 2021
Last update: June 2026
