Public Invited To Participate In Deaf Celebration Day Event

By Kris Kelly, CBS 62/CW50 Community Affairs Manager

Deaf Celebration Day began in 1985 as Deaf Awareness Day and has continued to grow and evolve every other year (except 2015). The event started as a way for the Deaf community to get together, socialize, and enjoy fun-filled activities.  It was also an opportunity for hearing people to interact with the Deaf community.

"Hearing people are invited to learn all about this rich and beautiful world we are part of," said Marcy Colton, Executive Director of Deaf Community Advocacy Network or DEAF C.A.N.! Knowledge of sign language is not required.

This event is celebrated every two years and is sponsored by DEAF C.A.N.! It includes entertainment, crafts for children, service provider information and an opportunity for the Metro-Detroit Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard-of-hearing communities to come together to celebrate their unique culture and history.

"We're going to have booths all set up with different agencies, different organizations, deaf businesses that you can chat with and learn more about our community," explained Dylan Secord, a Clinical Social Worker with DEAF C.A.N.!

Deaf Celebration Day will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Southfield Civic Center, 26000 Evergreen Rd., Southfield. Enter at the East doors.  The event is free to the public.  For more information, visit deafcan.org.

Watch Dylan Secord's complete interview about DEAF C.A.N.! and Deaf Celebration Day (the segment starts at 19:04).

CW50 is a proud sponsor of the 2017 Deaf Celebration Day.