DEAF EVENTS
June 22 at 12pm
Busboy & Poets
June 28 at 9:00pm
June 29 at 2-7pm
DEAF RESTAURANTS / BARS
EVENTS AROUND DC
Places to Eat / Drink
Gallaudet Shuttle bus
DC Metro
Rental bikes & scooters
Available around the city | Capital Bikeshare, Lime (Uber), Veo, Lyft
Please check out these toolkits to find relevant resources related to each of these topics!
Visual Arts
- De’VIA Curriculum | Deaf View/Image Art, De’VIA, coined in 1989, is an art movement that explores the Deaf experience and the Deaf perspective. This website includes a history, timeline, examples as well as a full K-12 De’VIA arts curriculum for teachers to use in the classroom.
- Chuck Baird | One of the original founds of the De’VIA movement, he was an artist who was also involved in the National Theatre of the Deaf.
- Matt Daigle | Deaf artist, cartoonist, illustrator and graphic designer. Well known as the co-creator of the cartoon, “That Deaf Guy.”
- Betty G. Miller | Known as the mother of the De’VIA movement, Betty G. Miller was an art professor at Gallaudet University for 18 years. Her art illustrated the suppression and beauty of Deaf culture and ASL, and believed that visual expression would help bridge the gap between Deaf and hearing worlds.
- Nancy Rourke | A well known De’VIA artist, who’s paintings “bear witness to the experience of deaf people,” and show the truth of both oppression of Deaf people and celebration of a collective identity and culture. Her work is known for only using black, white, and the primary colors - red, yellow and blue.
- Christine Sun Kim | A Korean American performer, artist and activist. Kim uses her artwork to illustrate the complexities of Deaf culture, intersectional identities and the relationship between sound and language.
Performing Arts
- National Theatre of the Deaf | The National Theatre of the Deaf explores what it means to be Deaf in America. Founded in 1967, NTD has done work both nationally and internationally and has pioneers the dual language theatre concept of ASL and English performances. They have performed in all 50 states, 33 countries and can be seen on Sesame Street, Disney Channel, and Broadway
- Deaf West Theater | Founded in Los Angeles in 1991, DWT strives to be the artistic bridge between the Deaf and hearing worlds. Their theater and media experiences are inspired by the Deaf culture and the power of sign language, and weave spoken English and ASL together in their performances.
- Deaf Spotlight | Deaf Spotlight inspires and showcases Deaf culture and ASL through the arts. Created in 2012 based on the desire to establish a Deaf Film Festival in Seattle, their goal is to bring people together to celebrate Deaf arts, culture and ASL. They provide youth program, summer camps, a Deaf film festival and artist grants for BIPOC Deaf artists.
- Visionaries of the Creative Arts | VOCA’s mission is to provide a platform for BIPOC Deaf and Hard of Hearing artists to create, collaborate and showcase their artwork. Based in the Washington D.C. area, VOCA provides a host of programs, such as a youth summer camp, hands-on stage interpreting training, community engagement and various theatrical shows.
- Deaf Austin Theatre | Deaf Austin Theatre is Deaf-founded and Deaf-run. DAT puts on productions for the Austin, Texas area. Their performances are done in ASL but provide voice interpreting and captions for accessibility.
Notable Deaf Performing Artists to Checkout:
Dr. Brian Cheslik, Russel Harvard, Rosa Lee Timm, CJ Jones, Troy Kotsur , and Lauren Ridloff
Gallaudet University is a private federally chartered university in Washington, D.C., for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing.
The LEAD-K Campaign is a direct response to the alarming number of Deaf and hard of hearing children arriving at school without language. The Campaign aims to end language deprivation through information to families about language milestones and assessments that measure language milestone achievements, and data collection that holds our current education system accountable.
The National Association of the Deaf is an organization for the promotion of the rights of deaf people in the United States.
The Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf is an association of schools and educational programs involved with the education of deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
An organization founded in 1967 provides comprehensive support and resources to families raising deaf or hard-of-hearing children. Empowered by the belief that deafness is not a disability, they prioritize promoting language and communication access in inclusive settings.
We are a parent-led, professionally-collaborative organization infused with the life experiences of adults who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, that is dedicated to serving families with children who are D/HH without a bias around communication modes or methodology.
The World Federation of the Deaf is an international non-governmental organization that acts as a peak body for national associations of Deaf people, with a focus on deaf people who use sign language and their family and friends.
Deaf Reach,Inc is a non-profit agency committed to maximizing the self-sufficiency of deaf and hard of hearing people who need special services. While the agency welcomes all Deaf and Hard of Hearing people, our programs focus on the specific needs of those who are experiencing behavioral health concerns, are developmentally disabled or socially and economically disadvantaged. Services have always included housing, information and referral to community services, counseling, housing placement assistance, life skills training and socialization activities.
American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association (ADARA)
The American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association (ADARA) is a national organization that brings together professionals from vocational rehabilitation, mental health, chemical health, education, interpreting, and related fields to share best practices in working with individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind to address policy and program concerns, and to network. Our goal is to improve the lives of those we serve while growing professionally.
Our products and services are deaf-centered, evidence-based, and developed in response to community needs.
We offer online courses, online gaming tools for youth, data reports, research summaries, evidence-based resources, webinars, and more.
We also provide individualized consultation, training, and resources that help community members, organizations, and schools improve outcomes for deaf people in continuing education and training.
National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA)
The National Black Deaf Advocates is an advocacy organization for Black deaf and hard of hearing people in the United States.
National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID)
The National Technical Institute for the Deaf is the first and largest technological college in the world for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD)
Communication Service for the Deaf is a global social impact organization founded in 1975 by Benjamin Soukup. CSD provides technologies, resources, and services that benefit the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
Council de Manos's mission is to empower multiple identities within Black, Indigenous, Latinx communities through social justice awareness and to end injustice.
National Hispanic Latino Association of the Deaf
The mission for NHLAD is to build an alliance between Deaf Latino and the Hispanic community through the preservation of our language, culture & customs. We recognize the importance of gaining empowerment through the promotion of leadership and education in the Hispanic and Latino community.
National Asian Deaf Congress was established in 1998 to promote cultural and ethnic pride for the empowerment of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Asians, their families and prospective communities.
National Asian Pacific Islander Deaf Coalition (NAPIDC)
The National Asian Pacific Islander Deaf Coalition’s mission is to provide space for collective growth within our Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, and Desi Deaf, DeafBlind, and DeafDisabled communities.
Our mission is to provide education, information & referral, and training about American Indians, Alaska Natives and First Nations, Indians who are Deaf, Deaf-Blind, Hard of Hearing and late- deafened to tribal councils, family members and other interested parties in order to improve the social, educational, vocational, health and spiritual well-being of this population.”
The Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf (RAD) is a nonprofit organization established in 1977. The purpose of this Alliance is to establish and maintain a society of Deaf LDGTBIPAGFGQA+.
Motion Light Lab, part of the Visual Language, Visual Learning initiative, combines creative literature with digital technology to generate new knowledge. Their projects explore bilingual interfaces using visual narratives to enhance learning experiences.
These apps offer captivating stories in both American Sign Language (ASL) and English. Children can choose to watch the story in ASL or read it in English. At any point, they can tap the screen to switch to the ASL version of that part of the story. Additionally, children can touch specific English words to see them fingerspelled and signed in ASL. Some apps are available in other sign languages from around the world.
Bilingual ASL Literacy Activities
For parents and educators needing accessible resources at home, this free collection provides weekly activities, ideas, and videos to support children's language development and learning. Much of the content is based on VL2 Storybook Apps, which are available through the Motion Light Lab.
These resources for educators and parents summarize key findings from VL2 on topics such as visual language acquisition, bilingualism, education, and socioemotional development. The briefs inform the education community and offer practice guides with recommendations for educating deaf children. They are available in ASL, English, Spanish, and Mandarin, both as free downloadable PDFs and for purchase in print.
Language First Parent Resources
The Language First Parent Guide is a 46-page document filled with information and resources to assist parents of Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children. It provides evidence-based guidance to help parents support their DHH child effectively.
Boston University Parent Packet
This packet offers research-based answers to commonly asked questions about language acquisition in Deaf and hard of hearing children, providing valuable information for parents.
Described Captions and Media Programs
DCMP offers a library of accessible education videos, teaching tools, and professional development opportunities. We work with content creators to provide high-quality captioning, audio descriptions, and American Sign Language (ASL) translations. Families and school staff with at least one child from early learning to grade 12 who has a disability can join DCMP for free. Educational professionals in training can also join. Members have access to professional development opportunities, and many eLearning resources are available to everyone.
A family organization specifically for families with deaf and hard of hearing children. They offer many different kinds of resources and support through membership. They host annual conferences and events throughout the year for families as well as professionals.
We are a parent-led, professionally-collaborative organization infused with the life experiences of adults who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, that is dedicated to serving families with children who are D/HH without a bias around communication modes or methodology.
Through Deaf Eyes
Through Deaf Eyes explores almost 200 years of Deaf life in America and presents a broad range of perspectives on what it means to be deaf. The film is propelled by the stories of people, both eminent and ordinary, and sheds light on events that have shaped Deaf lives.
Full film available on YouTube: Through Deaf Eyes with closed captions
Through Deaf Eyes companion book, released with the PBS film, has 200 photographs with a historical narrative depicting the American Deaf community and its place in our nation’s history. - https://gupress.gallaudet.edu/Books/T/Through-Deaf-Eyes
PBS has a Discussion Guide listed under their resources. The discussion guide is specifically tailored to Through Deaf Eyes film. Resources under Discussion guide include introduction, facilitator guidelines, access and communication, discussion questions, and background for complex topics -
https://www.pbs.org/weta/throughdeafeyes/resources/guide.html
The Deaf Experience on Display
We have a wonderful museum on campus called the National Deaf Life. The National Deaf Life Museum has been dedicated to creating high-quality programming, advocating the open exchange of ideas, providing leadership in the presentation of deaf history, and being a scholarly resource to our visitors. They also have newsletters if you’re interested in signing up! - https://gallaudet.edu/museum/
200 Years of Deaf Education in America
This visual filled historical PDF will take you through the 200 years of Deaf Education in the United States. Sharing the story of how Deaf education came from across the Atlantic Ocean to Hartford, Connecticut, this story will tell you how the Deaf education movement began in our country. The Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center proudly shares the Gallaudet University-produced reenactment of Gallaudet and Clerc’s 1817 historic journey, available in our CCOC - https://www.clerccenteronline.com/s/external-share-media?&vtui__mediaId=a1m4x00000SUooO&vtui__launchedFrom=Media
Through Deaf Eyes
Through Deaf Eyes explores almost 200 years of Deaf life in America and presents a broad range of perspectives on what it means to be deaf. The film is propelled by the stories of people, both eminent and ordinary, and sheds light on events that have shaped Deaf lives.
Full film available on YouTube: Through Deaf Eyes with closed captions
Through Deaf Eyes companion book, released with the PBS film, has 200 photographs with a historical narrative depicting the American Deaf community and its place in our nation’s history. - https://gupress.gallaudet.edu/Books/T/Through-Deaf-Eyes
PBS has a Discussion Guide listed under their resources. The discussion guide is specifically tailored to Through Deaf Eyes film. Resources under Discussion guide include introduction, facilitator guidelines, access and communication, discussion questions, and background for complex topics -
https://www.pbs.org/weta/throughdeafeyes/resources/guide.html
The Deaf Experience on Display
We have a wonderful museum on campus called the National Deaf Life. The National Deaf Life Museum has been dedicated to creating high-quality programming, advocating the open exchange of ideas, providing leadership in the presentation of deaf history, and being a scholarly resource to our visitors. They also have newsletters if you’re interested in signing up! - https://gallaudet.edu/museum/
200 Years of Deaf Education in America
This visual filled historical PDF will take you through the 200 years of Deaf Education in the United States. Sharing the story of how Deaf education came from across the Atlantic Ocean to Hartford, Connecticut, this story will tell you how the Deaf education movement began in our country. The Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center proudly shares the Gallaudet University-produced reenactment of Gallaudet and Clerc’s 1817 historic journey, available in our CCOC - https://www.clerccenteronline.com/s/external-share-media?&vtui__mediaId=a1m4x00000SUooO&vtui__launchedFrom=Media
