UCR Deaf Awareness Week

UC Riverside hosts Deaf Awareness Week each fall, bringing ASL-accessible programming to the campus and broader Inland Empire community. The week features guest lectures by prominent Deaf scholars and activists, ASL workshop drop-ins for beginners, a screening of Deaf cinema with filmmaker Q&A sessions, and a Deaf art exhibition in the campus gallery. A popular highlight is the silent dinner experience, where hearing and Deaf attendees share a meal communicating entirely through sign language. The week concludes with a community resource fair connecting attendees with local Deaf organizations, interpreting services, and advocacy groups. All events are free and open to the public.