From the NADzine:

ASL is Awesome for ALL! 
NAD Observes WFD International Week

Posted September 19, 2008

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) encourages local communities throughout the USA to become part of its ASL is Awesome for All! campaign, which promotes the long-standing position of the NAD that American Sign Language (ASL) is a basic human right and the natural language of the American deaf community.

The NAD seeks to share the benefits of ASL with everyone - it fosters language development in all babies, whether they are can hear or are deaf. It is in high demand as a second language being taught in many high schools and postsecondary programs nationwide. While additional benefits of ASL continue to be found through research, people of all ages presently enjoy transcending the limits of spoken language through ASL usage. “We must work together more vigorously than ever to bring attention to, elevate and gain greater recognition of ASL as our human right,” said NAD President Bobbie Beth Scoggins. (NAD Position Statement on ASL)

The ASL is Awesome for All! campaign also commemorates International Week of the Deaf, first launched by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) in 1958 and observed annually during the last full week of September. The week culminates with celebration of International Day of Sign Languages. Organizations of deaf people worldwide are encouraged by the WFD to educate the public about and promote the human and linguistic rights of deaf people, not only during this official observance but also year-round.

Accordingly, the NAD will have an ongoing listing of local events by state on its website, ASL is Awesome for All!, with further announcements about the national campaign to follow.

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About NAD
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) was established in 1880 by deaf leaders who believed in the right of the American deaf community to use sign language, to congregate on issues important to them, and to have its interests represented at the national level. These beliefs remain true to this day, with American Sign Language as a core value. As a nonprofit federation, the mission of the NAD is to preserve, protect, and promote the civil, human, and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America. The advocacy scope of the NAD is broad, covering the breadth of a lifetime and impacting future generations in the areas of early intervention, education, employment, health care, technology, telecommunications, youth leadership, and more.  For more information, please visit www.nad.org.

About WFD
The WFD is recognized by the United Nations as an international non-governmental organization representing approximately 70 million deaf people worldwide. The WFD mission is to promote the human rights of deaf people, including the right to sign language, and equal opportunity in all spheres of life, including access to education and information. Membership comprises national organizations of deaf people in 130 countries. The NAD is recognized by the WFD as the national organizational affiliate representing deaf people in the United States of America. For more information, please visit www.wfdeaf.org.