ASU’s deaf community is showing that you don’t have to speak to be heard.

Deaf culture takes center stage this week through a series of events and festivals in honor of Deaf Awareness Week, which runs Sept. 21 to 28.

“People don’t know about sign language or the deaf community so we want to promote it to the community so people can learn more about the deaf culture and what’s going on in Arizona,” said Donna Leff, head of the Deaf Awareness Week Committee, through an American Sign Language interpreter.

Leff is also a lecturer in ASU’s ASL program.

The Deaf Awareness Committee organized a series of events for each day of the week to celebrate the deaf culture, including dinner, deaf theater shows, socials and festivals.

The week of events began Sunday with a kick-off party hosted by the committee and ASU’s ASL Club.

Deaf Awareness Week culminates with a Diamondbacks game on Sept. 28.

Leff said the committee chose a variety of events to highlight the uses of sign language beyond basic communication.

ASL Club President Jenna Eckenrode said in an e-mail that she hopes people will attend the events, ask questions and leave knowing more about the deaf community than they did before.

“There is an entire deaf world happening along with the hearing world,” said Eckenrode, a journalism and interdisciplinary studies senior. “The Deaf community is very social and welcoming, and they create beautiful music, art, dancing, theater, literature and have a very proud and exciting history worldwide. The Deaf are some of the most fun people you will ever meet.”

The events are open to everyone from fluent ASL users to students and those who have little or no signing experience, Eckenrode said.

“This week is a great opportunity for those who aren't familiar with the deaf community to learn about what a diverse community they are,” she said.

Anyone who is interested is encouraged to come by the events and see or experience the vibrant deaf culture, Leff said.

“We want people here on campus to get a little exposure to deafness and sign language either by stopping by the festival or attending one of the events around the city,” lecturer and committee member Paul Quinn said in an e-mail.

“It's interesting stuff no matter what your level of experience in deaf culture is,” he said.

Reach the reporter at lauren.gambino@asu.edu.