Annual Events

Deaf Related Events

General Interest Events

Deaf Related Events

To observe the birth anniversary of Thomas Alva Edison, an inventor with 1,093 patents  His deafness was actually an asset as he once said it allowed him to work with less distraction and to sleep deeply, undistributed by outside sounds

To commemorate the three most important deaf cultural dates in American history

March 13, 1988: The victory of the Deaf President Now movement at Gallaudet University located in Washington, D.C. when the first deaf person was selected to become president of this 124-year-ole institution

April 8, 1864: Charter signed by the President Abraham Lincoln, authorizing the Board of Directors of the Columbia Institution (now Gallaudet University) to grant college degree to deaf students

April 15, 1817: First permanent school founded for deaf students in the Western Hemisphere, now known as the American School for the Deaf

National Association of the Deaf Ad Hoc Committee on National Deaf History Month (US) has developed a National Deaf History Month kit.  www.folda.net click on "library."

To give members of Children of Deaf Adults, known as CODA, the opportunity to honor their deaf parents and to recognize the gifts of culture and language they received    

CODA has library resources.  www.coda-international.org

To raise public understanding about hearing, voice, speech, and language disorders, and recognize speech and hearing professionals for the important work they do

American Speech-Language Hearing Association has library resources.  www.asha.org

To observe the birth anniversary of Helen Keller who was born on June 27 in 1880 and to enhance public awareness about deaf-blind people’s needs for full participation in society

Helen Keller National Center has library resources    www.hknc.org

To celebrate the culture, heritage, and language unique to deaf Americans

Some places use "culture" or "heritage" instead of "awareness" for the name of the week.    

To promote public awareness in local communities to strengthen solidarity among deaf people and to call attention to concerns important to deaf people

Some countries observe the Week at different times during the year.  www.wfdeaf.org

To celebrate birth anniversaries of the two pioneers in deaf education who were born in the month of December – Laurent Clerc on December 26, 1785 and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet on December 10, 1787 – and to recognize their impact on American society since the 19th century.

General Interest Events

This week is the 50th anniversary of National Library Week (April 13-19, 2008).  Every year in April since 1958, communities across the country celebrate libraries of all types. Librarians, library workers, library customers and supporters are also commended for their contributions to what the nation’s libraries are today.

To celebrate the week, the National Literary Society of the Deaf presents the following five questions; each includes a possible answer.  Enjoy!

1.	This deaf author of Deaf Heritage: A Narrative History of Deaf America is one of the three co-authors of Through Deaf Eyes: A Photographic History of an American Community, published in 2007.     a)  Douglas Bahl     b)  Clifton Carbin     c)  Jack R. Gannon
2.	In January 2008, American Library Association announced this author the winner of the Schneider Family Book Award -- Kami and the Yaks, a fiction book for children.     a)  Andrea Stenn Stryer     b)  Lou Ann Walker     c)  Marlee Matlin
3.	This well known author was inspired by his boyhood experiences with deaf parents and friends when working on books for children.        a)  Thomas Bull     b)  Myron Uhlberg     c)  Colin Bootman
4.	The Printer, a fiction book for children by Myron Uhlberg whose deaf father was a printer, should be a valuable resource for promoting this annual event.     a)  Black History Month     b)  Inventor’s Day     c)  Deaf History Month
5.	What is the name of the book recently selected by the National Literary Society for its two-year reading promotional project called Deaf America Reads?     a)  Only in America     b)  Moments of Truth     c)  Great Deaf Americans: The Second Edition

Answers
1. c.	The two other co-authors are Douglas C. Baynton and Jean Lindquist Bergey.
2. a.	Kami is deaf.
3. b.	One of his books, Dad, Jackie, and Me received the Schneider Family Book Award in 2006.
4. c.	In 19th and 20th centuries, many deaf people worked as printers; a few owned printing shops. Some were moonlighters holding the second job as printers.
5. b.	Public libraries and deaf-related organizations are urged to work together to promote reading and books in their local communities. For details, visit www.folda.net/lib/reading.html

For 2008, the national deaf community has good reason to celebrate this month because the National Association of the Deaf  www.nad.org, its section: Senior Citizens Section www.nad.org/scs and Deaf Seniors of America (DSA) www.deafseniors.org  have just launched “Senior Resources” – the first ever- comprehensive listing of items of interest to older deaf persons and their families or caregivers.  When visiting www.nad.org/scs, please click on senior resources listing.    
If your library has such resources in your area that should be added to this listing, please send email via www.nad.org/contactus
A Journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step (Lao Tzu c.604 - c.531 b.c.)

One of the NEA partners is the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP)  www.dcmp.org.  The National Association of the Deaf www.nad.org and the DCMP sponsor Read Captions Across America Campaign. DCMP is administrated by the NAD and is funded by the U.S. Dept. of Education This event is meant to place emphasis on the benefits of reading captions.  Bill Stark, the DCMP project director, has always agreed with the famous saying of Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel)  -- "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not."    For more information about this exciting event and DCMP resources that benefit the nation's libraries, please visit http://www.dcmp.org/outreach/newsletter/january2008.html.