The NAU event represented one day from National Deaf Awareness Week. About 50 people attended the the event on Monday. Deaf Awareness Day is making people aware of opportunities deaf people have. One guest speaker, Lulu Howell of Flagstaff, spoke about growing up deaf in special schools and then in the public school system. Narbona said he would like those who attended the event to ask themselves why it is important to promote deaf awareness.
Sign language is the basis for communication between deaf people.
People need to understand that sign language is its own language. It has its own grammar and structure which makes it its own language. Sign language is not a universal language, unlike the English language, which is spoken all around the world. Our country uses American Sign Language which has a French base which is where sign language was founded. Sign language is the oldest way in which deaf people have communicated.