The Deaf's International Week is now 18-24 September. This week, the Deaf's World Organization and its member associations are raising awareness about the rights of Deaf people around the world. The theme for this year's International Week is 'A world where Deaf people can speak sign language everywhere.' This approach is supported by the Communication Centre Act, which aims to encourage sign language learners to access services provided in the community based on Icelandic Sign Language.

On 23 September, the International Day of Sign Language, the Icelandic Sign Language Communication Centre shall specifically celebrate Icelandic Sign Language. In celebration of the day and in the spirit of the theme of International Week, the Centre for Communication has produced two micro-videos that show the gains involved in knowing Icelandic sign language and that Icelandic sign language can truly be spoken everywhere. The videos are shown on the side.

The Deaf's World Organization has published a call for communities around the world to support the declaration and to hold events to highlight the rights of Deaf children. has translated the declaration and it is here published with the company's permission.

On the occasion of the International Week, the Centre for Communication would like to draw particular attention to the services that the Centre provides to sign language children and their family members on the basis of Icelandic sign language and to promote their ability to speak sign language everywhere.

• The Centre for Communication provides sign language children, parents and other close family members with access to free study in Icelandic Sign Language and advice on language acquisition and language development of sign language children. Access to sign language learning and counselling is not subject to references from other institutions. All children with hearing impairment and other sign language children, as well as their family members, have a legally protected right to learn Icelandic sign language. The Institute offers personalised service, organised courses and family time. The Institute also offers courses in Icelandic Sign Language for the general public, contributing to the general knowledge of Icelandic Sign Language in the community.

• The Centre for Communication, in collaboration with the Literature School and the Free School The Rocket, organises regular sessions for sign language children, called Iconsy Island.

• Sign language children from the School of Literature as well as other children and youth from other schools in Iceland come together at the Centre for Communication and have a period of co-operation entirely in Icelandic Sign Language, under the guidance of the sign language teachers at the Centre for Communication. A symbol island will be held during the International Week, for example.

• The Web site is maintained by the Corporate Communications Center . There are a lot of material about Icelandic sign language and Icelandic sign language, including a variety of material intended for children. The material can both support the language acquisition of sign language children and contribute to the knowledge of other children in Icelandic sign language.

The Centre for Communication provides interpreting services to sign language children, as for all sign language learners. The main objective of the interpreting services of the Centre for Communication is to promote greater participation and accessibility in sign languages in the broadest possible society.