The Deaf Awareness Week and Day of Sign Languages Act (Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act Amended)
Chamber
manitoba
Stage
Introduced
This Manitoba bill officially designates the last week of September as Deaf Awareness Week and September 23 as Day of Sign Languages.
Key Changes
- The last full week of September is officially named Deaf Awareness Week in Manitoba each year
- September 23 is officially named the Day of Sign Languages in Manitoba each year
- These designations are added as a new Schedule to the Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act
- The bill formally recognizes American Sign Language, Quebec Sign Language, and Indigenous sign languages as distinct and essential communication systems
Gotchas
- This bill is symbolic — it creates official recognition days but does not require any specific government actions, funding, or programs
- No enforcement mechanism or penalties are included, meaning participation in observances is voluntary
- The bill does not create any new rights or legal protections for deaf or hard of hearing individuals
Who's Affected
- Deaf and hard of hearing Manitobans
- Sign language users and interpreters
- Deaf cultural and community organizations
- Schools and educational institutions
- General public (awareness and education)
Vibes
0 responses
Gotchas
- This bill is symbolic — it creates official recognition days but does not require any specific government actions, funding, or programs
- No enforcement mechanism or penalties are included, meaning participation in observances is voluntary
- The bill does not create any new rights or legal protections for deaf or hard of hearing individuals
Summary
This bill changes Manitoba's Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act to officially recognize two new observances each year. The last full week of September becomes Deaf Awareness Week, and September 23 becomes the Day of Sign Languages. These dates align with international observances already recognized around the world. The bill is meant to raise public awareness about deaf culture, sign languages (including American Sign Language, Quebec Sign Language, and Indigenous sign languages), and the barriers faced by deaf and hard of hearing people in Manitoba. It also highlights the contributions that deaf and hard of hearing Manitobans make to their communities. The goal is to encourage greater inclusion, better educational outcomes, more economic participation, and improved accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing people across the province.
Automatically generated from bill text using Claude
Vibes
0 responses