What is it?
The National Week of Deaf People (NWDP) is a week-long national celebration of Deaf individuals and the Australian Deaf community. This includes celebrating the International Week of Deaf People (IWDP) and International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) which are initiatives of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD).
These two events are traditionally held during September and are based on the founding date of the WFD (23 September 1951). National Week of Deaf People is an opportunity for Deaf people to celebrate their communities, language, culture and history; make the public aware of their local, state and national Deaf communities; and to recognise their achievements.
Upcoming Events
Celebrate National Week of Deaf People by connecting with your local community. Catch up with a community barbecue, morning tea, Deaf-guided art tours, lawn bowls, and more!
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2026 Daily Themes
National Week of Deaf People Theme for 2026: Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights. We adopt the World Federation of the Deaf’s daily themes for the International Week of Deaf People for use throughout NWDP.
The 2026 daily themes are:
- Monday, 21 September 2026 | 20 Years of the CRPD and National Sign Languages
- Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | The Right to a Quality Multilingual Inclusive Education
- Wednesday, 23 September 2026 | Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights
- Thursday, 24 September 2026 | No Access Without National Sign Language
- Friday, 25 September 2026 | Nothing About Us Without Us
- Saturday, 26 September 2026 | Deaf Culture is a Human Right
- Sunday, 27 September 2026 | 75 Years of Human Rights
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Deaf-ining Deaf Space
We are proud to present the Deaf-ining Deaf Space Report.
Deaf Space is part of Australia’s story; it is a part of our culture, communities, and futures. This report is a roadmap for how Deaf experiences can be embedded across all areas of society.
Download the report today!
Celebrate NWDP with us by sharing the Report Launch!
Want to learn more about what you can do to celebrate NWDP? This factsheet has quick and easy to implement ideas on how you can show your support for the Deaf and hard of hearing community. Join us!
Download the kit here
Signs of Success
Inclusive employment practices are vital for fostering a diverse, equitable, and productive workforce.
This six-part video series showcases real-life success stories of employers who have embraced inclusive, Deaf-friendly workplaces—and provides practical guidance on how other business can do the same.
Whether you’re a small business owner or leading a large corporation, these resources are designed to give you the knowledge, tools, and confidence to support Deaf employees and foster a more inclusive workplace.
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NWDP Daily Videos
Playlist
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