Today, we recognise the beauty of sign language and affirm the right of Deaf persons everywhere to communicate, connect, and be understood. The International Day of Sign Languages is marked every year on September 23rd, and this year’s theme is “Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights.”

Sign languages are full, complex, natural languages, not a simplified version of spoken language and not a set of gestures. They have their own grammar, structure, and richness, and for millions of Deaf people around the world, they are the language of home, community, and identity. Recognising sign language means recognising a fundamental human right: the right to communicate, to be educated, to participate in community life, and to be understood.

Why This Day Matters

For a very long time, sign languages were misunderstood, discouraged, or dismissed as inferior to spoken language. Today, we know better. Sign languages are recognised by linguists as complete languages in their own right, and access to sign language from an early age is directly linked to better outcomes in education, communication, and overall wellbeing for Deaf children.

“Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights” is a reminder that language access isn’t a nice extra. It’s a human right, protected under international frameworks like the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which specifically recognises sign languages as equal to spoken languages.

What This Means for Children

Children are naturally curious about how people communicate, and that curiosity is a wonderful entry point for teaching respect, inclusion, and awareness from an early age. Learning even a handful of signs, or simply learning that sign language exists and is a real, full language, helps children grow up seeing Deaf people and sign language users as equally capable communicators, not as people who communicate “less” than others.

This kind of early exposure builds empathy in a very concrete way. A child who understands that communication can look different, and that different doesn’t mean lesser, carries that understanding into how they treat classmates, neighbors, and anyone they meet who communicates differently than they do.

How Home-School Self-Study Approaches This

At Home-School Self-Study, we believe learning about the world includes learning about the many ways people communicate and experience that world. Days like this one are a natural opportunity to bring language diversity, inclusion, and human rights into a child’s learning in a way that’s concrete and age-appropriate, not abstract.

Understanding that there are many valid ways to communicate also strengthens a child’s own language and communication skills, by building awareness of how language works in the first place, whether spoken, written, or signed.

Activities for Ages 5 to 11 to Mark International Day of Sign Languages

These activities introduce children to sign language and the idea of communication diversity in a respectful, age-appropriate way.

For Ages 5 to 7: First Signs, First Awareness

• Learn five simple signs. Together, learn five basic signs from a reputable source, like “hello,” “thank you,” “please,” “friend,” and “yes.” Practice them together as a fun new way to say familiar words.
• Communication without words game. Take turns trying to communicate a simple idea, like “I’m hungry” or “let’s play,” using only gestures and facial expressions, no talking. This builds appreciation for how much can be communicated without spoken words.
• Sign language alphabet card. Make or print a simple fingerspelling alphabet chart and practice spelling your child’s name with it.
• Storytime conversation. After learning a few signs, talk simply about how some people use their hands and faces to talk instead of their voices, and that it’s just as real a way of talking.

For Ages 8 to 11: Understanding and Respect

• Learn a short signed phrase. Learn a complete simple sentence in sign language, like “my name is…” or “nice to meet you,” and practice it as a family.
• Research Deaf culture and history. Have your child research one fact about Deaf culture, sign language history, or a notable Deaf person, and share what they learn.
• Discuss accessibility. Talk about what it might be like to navigate a world built mostly around spoken communication, and brainstorm together what makes a space, a classroom, a shop, a family gathering, more accessible and welcoming.
• Write a short reflection. Have your child write a few sentences about why they think language access is a human right, using their own words and understanding.
• Practice inclusive thinking. Discuss a simple scenario, like meeting someone who communicates differently, whether through sign language, an assistive device, or another method, and talk through respectful, welcoming ways to interact.

Bringing It All Together

The International Day of Sign Languages reminds us that communication takes many forms, and every one of them deserves recognition and respect. “Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights” is a reminder that access to language, in whatever form a person communicates, is not a privilege. It’s a right.

At Home-School Self-Study, we believe that understanding the world means understanding the many ways people in it communicate, connect, and express who they are. If you’re looking for homeschooling resources that help children build both strong academic skills and a genuine understanding of the world around them for primary school students in Trinidad and Tobago, you’ll find it at homeschoolselfstudy.com.