NIU will host its annual deaf and hard-of-hearing awareness week by holding a variety of events throughout the week.

“We have celebrated Deaf Awareness Week at NIU for about the past 15 years. It’s a great way to show that NIU has a large deaf community, and also educate the hearing population on campus,” said Maggie Cormier, counselor for the hearing impaired.

The events for Deaf Awareness Week will run today through Friday, with a different event each day that will give deaf and non-deaf students the chance to learn and interact with each other.

There will be hearing impaired students and staff from NIU in attendance, along with many hearing impaired students from high schools around the country that will be performing during the events, Cormier said.

Students participating in the events encourage others to come out and learn more about the deaf community.

“I want hearing people to know how hard it is for students without hearing to communicate with others,” said Marissa York, a student from Canghel Creek High School in Houston, Texas.

“I want to encourage everyone to come see our performances and learn about our culture, “ said Gabriel Green, a student at the Illinois School for the Deaf in Jacksonville.

Green also shared his favorite quote from I. King Jordan, president of Gallaudet College for the Deaf, which is: “Deaf people can do anything except hear.”

“NIU has about 100 hearing impaired students and staff, which is very large for a college campus, and makes it important that we hold a week in recognition to the deaf community at NIU,” Cormier said. “Most importantly, deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals are people first, and these activities help recognize that.”

Deaf Awareness Week activities

Today: “Guiding Hands: The Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission” at 7 p.m. at the Holmes Student Center’s Carl Sandburg Auditorium.

Tuesday: “The Days of our Deaf Lives: Deaftown” at 7 p.m. at the HSC’s Regency Room.

Wednesday: “All My Deafies: Reality Show” at 7 p.m. at the HSC Carl Sandburg Auditorium.

Thursday: “The Bold & The Signing: Sign Sync” at 9 p.m. at the HSC’s Carl Sandburg Auditorium.

Friday: “One CODA Life to Live: The Abababa Tour” at 7p.m. at the HSC’s Carl Sandburg Auditorium.

Sign language lessons are also available by contacting the Department of Communicative Disorders at 753-1484.