KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — April 24, 2025 — Zoo Knoxville is proud to host Deaf Awareness Day on Monday, April 28th, highlighting the importance of accessibility and inclusivity for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. The event will feature American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation provided by volunteer ASL students at select animal keeper chats throughout the day.
Guests will be able to experience the zoo’s popular animal presentations with the added support of ASL interpreters at the following times:
- 10:00 AM – Joe the Sloth
- 10:30 AM – Herpetology
- 11:00 AM – Otters
- 11:30 AM – Birds
- 1:00 PM – Apes
The goal of Deaf Awareness Day is to celebrate Deaf culture and language while offering equal access to educational experiences at the zoo.
Craig Lemak, a member of Knoxville’s Deaf Community, shared:
“I think it’s great because unfortunately, a lot of times, people in general are unaware about the Deaf and Hard of Hearing culture and the language of American Sign Language. So it’s really nice to give the community an opportunity to experience what ASL is and what the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community is all about—and also to learn the significance of equal access.”
Zoo Knoxville is committed to providing inclusive experiences for all guests and is honored to bring awareness to the richness of ASL and Deaf culture. Guests are encouraged to attend the keeper chats and celebrate this important day with us.
For more information, visit zooknoxville.org.
