Every year on September 23, the world celebrates the International Day of Sign Languages. It is a day to honor the languages used by deaf people and to remember that everyone deserves to communicate freely.

The United Nations chose this day in 2017, and it was first celebrated in 2018. September 23 was picked because the World Federation of the Deaf was founded on this date in 1951. The federation has worked for many years to protect the rights of deaf people around the world.

Some people think sign language is just hand movements or a copy of spoken words. This is not true. Sign languages are full, natural languages with their own grammar and rules. People use their hands, faces, and body movements to share ideas, feelings, and stories.

There is also no single sign language for the whole world. There are more than 300 different sign languages. American Sign Language, British Sign Language, and Sri Lankan Sign Language are all different from each other, just as English, Sinhala, and Tamil are different.

Around 70 million people in the world are deaf, and most of them live in developing countries. Many do not get a chance to learn sign language early in life. Some schools do not teach it, and many hospitals, offices, and public places have no interpreters. This makes it hard for deaf people to get an education, find a job, or get medical care.

Everyone can help make the world more welcoming. Here are a few simple ways:

• Learn a few basic signs, such as “hello,” “thank you,” and “sorry.”
• Support schools that teach sign language.
• Be patient and respectful when talking with a deaf person.
• Ask for interpreters and subtitles at events and on television.

The International Day of Sign Languages reminds us that communication is a basic human right. When we make space for sign languages, we build a fairer and kinder world for all.