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Flag-Raising Ceremony for Deaf Awareness Week at Buffalo City Hall

Sep 20, 2021


September 20, 2021

What: Flag-Raising Ceremony in Recognition of Deaf Awareness Week

When: Monday, September 20, 2021, at noon

Where: Buffalo City Hall, 65 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY

Who: Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown; representatives from Deaf Access Services, People Inc., St. Mary’ School for the Deaf and the Erie County Office for People with Disabilities; along with community members and people supported by the fellow organizations.

Why: In honor of Deaf Awareness Week, Deaf Access Services (DAS), an affiliate of People Inc., is hosting a flag-raising ceremony. The ceremony is also presented by People Inc., St. Mary’ School for the Deaf and the Erie County Office for People with Disabilities. The Global Flag of Deaf Communities will be raised, which symbolizes the following: The shape in the middle represents a hand, which is used by people who communicate through Sign Language. The light blue represents how the Deaf community cherishes Sign Language. The gold symbolizes light, hope, knowledge and enlightenment. The dark blue indicates Deafhood, an individual and collective journey to combat audism and embrace Deaf gain. 

Deaf Awareness Week is celebrated for the following:

- To spread awareness and educate people about the Deaf community’s issues and push for equal access/communication.

- To celebrate the culture, language and heritage of people, who are Deaf all around the world.

- To learn that there are many kinds of hearing loss, from hard of hearing to Deaf and to Culturally Deaf and many more.

- To recognize the achievements of notable people who are Deaf.

- To show that people who are Deaf are capable of doing anything, except hear.

Formed in 1983 by a group of dedicated Deaf leaders and volunteers concerned about the welfare of the Deaf community, Deaf Access Services, an affiliate of People Inc., is the only local non-profit community organization solely dedicated to serve the Deaf and hard of hearing communities. Deaf Access Services envisions a community where all people experience equality, empowerment and inclusion to lead lives full of possibilities. 

People Inc., a multispecialty non-profit health and human services agency, provides programs and services to more than 10,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, special needs, families and older adults throughout Western New York and the Greater Rochester region. Since 1970, People Inc. has assisted people to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity. With nearly 4,000 employees, People Inc. is one of the region’s largest employers. To learn more, visit people-inc.org, follow People Inc. on Facebook or Twitter @PeopleIncNews.

St. Mary’ School for the Deaf has been serving the Deaf community throughout Western New York since 1853. The school is committed to providing equitable access to exemplary educational programs that prepare Deaf students to be self-directed, lifelong learners.