How to: Celebrate National Deaf Youth Day

A Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD) student is doing a mock interview, March 2019.

BY CHANEL GLEICHER BONHEYO

National Deaf Youth Day, established in 2015 and celebrated every year on March 6, was developed to recognize and bring together deaf and hard of hearing youth from schools for the deaf, mainstream programs, and colleges and universities. National Deaf Youth Day serves two purposes: 1) to celebrate the unique identity of deaf and hard of hearing people and their accomplishments and 2) to promote the idea that deaf and hard of hearing youth can do anything.

FACT

The date of March 6 was chosen for its proximity to Deaf History Month, which is held each year from March 13th through April 15.

The NAD staff and some students from the Maryland School for the Deaf are all smiles after spending the National Deaf Youth Day together, March 2018!

We have over three million young deaf and hard of hearing people in America! Far too many are not given equal opportunities for personal or social development as well as meaningful career preparation. By celebrating National Deaf Youth Day, we recognize the need to promote the maximum potential of our deaf and hard of hearing youth to support their future goals and endeavors. YOU can join the movement and celebrate the National Deaf Youth Day with us! We encourage state associations, organizations, and schools to host an event, a program, or an activity on March 6th. Not sure where to start? Consider this as your guide! • The easy part is your date is set! (Note: if March 6th does not work for you, activities or programs can be hosted on other dates or with other events.) • Set up a meeting with your state association, organization and/or school. If you are a current student of a school, meet with your school administrators. With the school’s support, explore local organizations and clubs that are interested to co-host this with you! Working with several partners will help build a stronger committee. One partner may have the location while the other partner may have a staff who can develop your flyer. • Brainstorm ideas on how you want to celebrate the special day! Do you want to host an event, a program, or an activity? Do you want something on-site or on social media only? Hosting a special event Here are some examples: • Host a fundraiser to sponsor one or two students to attend the NAD Conference as Jr. NAD Pages. • Celebrate by having a community-wide cookout at a park. • Invite state associations’ officers to visit a school or programs for the deaf or invite a presenter to give a workshop. • Schools can attend their state association or organizations’ meeting.

Howard A. Rosenblum and a Maryland School for the Deaf student creates a story book together at the Maryland School for the Deaf, March 2018.

Doing special events on social media You can celebrate the day as an individual or as a group! As an individual: • Post a favorite deaf or hard of hearing role model using the hashtag #DeafRoleModel. • Post a photo using the hashtag #iSupportDeafYouth. • Use the hashtag #NationalDeafYouthDay for any comment or picture that reflects deaf and hard of hearing youth. As a group: • You can start a social media campaign using the hashtags: #DeafRoleModel, #iSupportDeafYouth, and #NationalDeafYouthDay. • Members of your group can post reasons why you support deaf youth from March 1-6 or for the entire month of March!

The NAD and Starbucks work together to improve the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School’s yard, October 2019.

You can choose how to celebrate National Deaf Youth Day. In the past, the National Association of the Deaf has celebrated the special day by visiting and volunteering at a deaf school, organizing a video campaign to fundraise for Youth Leadership Camp and collaborated with several schools to arrange a mock interview day with local corporations and organizations.

Chanel Gleicher Bonheyo is the Director of the NAD Youth Programs.

For additional information: the National Deaf Youth Day toolkit is available online! You will find an extensive list of ideas at nad.org/youth/national-deaf-youth-day. If you are hosting National Deaf Youth Day, let us know!