Aquarium of Niagara partners with People Inc. to recognize Deaf Awareness Month

Weekend presentations to feature American Sign Language interpreters

In recognition of Deaf Awareness Month, the Aquarium of Niagara is once again partnering with People Inc.’s Deaf Access Services to enhance the accessibility of its daily talks and presentations for the deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing loss community. The Aquarium of Niagara’s third annual Deaf Awareness Weekend event is sponsored by the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area.

On Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21-22, all talks and presentations at the Aquarium of Niagara will feature American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters. New this year, interpreters will be present at the sturgeon and featured feeding presentations at the venue’s new expansion, Great Lakes 360. When availability allows, an interpreter will also be present at the aquarium’s interactive touch pool, M&T Bank Shark and Ray Bay, to interpret the exhibit and its animals for guests throughout the weekend.

A press release noted, “People Inc.’s Deaf Access Services steward the community by promoting communication access, awareness and opportunities for the local deaf community. With their help, the aquarium has not only taken steps to promote accessibility through events and programming, but also to develop long-term solutions by providing prerecorded videos of ASL-interpreted facts about various animals and exhibits that are available on-demand on the aquarium’s website.”

“People Inc. is proud to partner with the Aquarium of Niagara to provide interpreting services for the deaf and hard of hearing, and promote inclusivity at the aquarium,” said Anne McCaffrey, president and CEO of People Inc., which among its many program offerings provides deaf access services to thousands of people in Western New York. “Our region is lucky to have this exceptional cultural institution understand and support the need to ensure their facility is accessible. We applaud the aquarium’s efforts during Deaf Awareness Week and all year long.”

This weekend bolsters the aquarium’s commitment to becoming a quality-of-life resource to the community and to fostering a welcoming atmosphere for all. The initiative aligns with the aquarium's other inclusive programming offerings, including sensory-friendly events and free community celebrations on the organization’s outdoor plaza.

“Initiatives like Deaf Awareness Weekend not only promote immediate accessibility for members of the deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing loss community, but also represent our commitment to maintain accessibility as a key goal for our organization,” said Chad Fifer, president and CEO of the Aquarium of Niagara. “The aquarium is grateful for the guidance and expertise of our partners at People Inc. as we strive to eliminate barriers to access and connect all members of the community with the wonders of the aquatic world.”

The aquarium’s daily schedule of programming includes penguin, sea lion, seal, sturgeon and sea turtle presentations along with two feeding demonstrations. The full schedule can be viewed here. The site will also be hosting a free, ASL-interpreted nature stories trail walk on at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

The Aquarium of Niagara is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Tickets are available online at aquariumofniagara.org.