WHEREAS, approximately 863,000 Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing individuals reside in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing residents contribute to the vitality of the Commonwealth, and Virginia is enriched by the diverse heritage, language, and culture of the Deaf community; and

WHEREAS, American Sign Language (ASL) is the first language of many Deaf Virginians and is central to family communication, identity, and cultural connection for thousands of residents, and increasing public awareness of ASL helps break down communication barriers and foster stronger relationships among all Virginians; and

WHEREAS, celebrating ASL during Deaf Awareness Week fosters understanding and respect for language in all its forms and affirms the rights and contributions of Deaf and signing individuals; and

WHEREAS, Deaf Awareness Week is an opportunity to promote equal access opportunities for children and adults in Virginia who are Deaf, Deafblind, or Hard of Hearing, and to highlight the programs and services available to them; and

WHEREAS, Deaf Awareness Week was first celebrated by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) in 1958; and

WHEREAS, this observance, also known as the International Week of the Deaf People, commemorates the first congress of the World Federation of the Deaf held in September 1951, and the last full week of September is now internationally recognized as Deaf Awareness Week; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing provides services to ensure that Deaf and Hard of Hearing Virginians may fully participate in programs, services, and opportunities throughout the Commonwealth;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize September 21-27, 2025, as DEAF AWARENESS WEEK in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.