Museum of Deaf History, Arts & Culture

08/31/2026

📢 Museum Closure Notice

The Museum of Deaf History, Arts & Culture will be closed on Saturday, September 5, 2026 in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

We look forward to welcoming you back when we reopen on September 9, 2026.

08/31/2026

Sign Up Today and Join the Fun! 4th Annual ASL-for-ALL Walk/Run/Roll!

📅 Saturday, September 26, 2026
📍 Museum of Deaf History, Arts & Culture, 455 E. Park St, Olathe, KS

Whether you’re a runner, walker, or roller—this chip-timed 5K is your chance to move with meaning, fast or relaxed, clocked or casual! Each year, our ASL-for-ALL 5K highlights a sign-word on our race t-shirts that captures the spirit of our growing movement.

In 2023, it was "RUN". In 2024, it was “CONNECT”. In 2024, it was “CURIOUS”.

This year’s sign-word is... HOME

Our sign-words are a reflection of celebrating the openness and willingness to learn, sign, and grow together in Olathe and in surrounding communities all across the Kansas City Metro.

Join us as we promote shared signing communities, where Deaf and non-Deaf people use sign language to connect in everyday life, where communication is not a barrier, but a bridge.

Register by September 11th to guarantee getting a T-Shirt of your size!!
www.museumofdeaf.org/annual5k

Run, Connect, Curious, and Home sign-words printed on t-shirts are © Marie Qualls. Used with permission.

08/28/2026

Don't forget to support MDHAC by going to Charlie's Car Washes before August 31st!! Follow this link to purchase: https://crwsh.co/CCWMOD

🚗💦Buy Charlie’s Car Washes and Museum of Deaf History, Arts & Culture keep 50% of the profits during the month of August! 💲

Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Topeka and Wichita areas! 💦

Follow this link to purchase: https://crwsh.co/CCWMOD

The link will connect you to the wash purchase dashboard where you can buy exterior washes! IMPORTANT: Remind to NOT delete the wash link after making a wash purchase— Encourage you to SAVE their wash link. The fundraiser is for August 1st to 31st!

08/26/2026

🌟🚨Deafhood Institute Announces Fall Schedule: A Three-Part Journey to Consciousness, Community & Change! Deepen your understanding of Deafhood, restore Deaf identity, and become a change‑maker in your community.

👉Deafhood 101 (virtual on zoom)
DESCRIPTION: Deafhood 101 introduces the “Deaf Being” and uncovers the hidden discourses behind medical and educational control of Deaf lives. Explore surdinalism, Deafhood vs deafness, identity, eugenics, deficit thinking, and “1,001 victories” to recognize the unlimited potential of Deaf people and your role in our ecosystem. Deadline to register: September 30, 2026

👉Deafhood 201 (virtual on zoom)
DESCRIPTION: Deafhood 201 builds on 101 to examine impact of oralism, residential schools, and the non‑Deaf “system” shaping Deaf lives. We explore Deaf Identity Restoration, Deaf clubs and third places, and why engaging in critical discourses is key to healing and building a positive, holistic future for our community. Prerequisite: Deafhood 101. Deadline to register: November 11, 2026

👉Deafhood 301- THE LAB (virtual on zoom)
DESCRIPTION: This is a space for practice-in-action. Participants design and take real actions in their communities, then reflect and refine to build self‑agency. Through guided practice, you learn what can block change, how systems respond, and how to stay present while creating tangible outcomes. Prerequisite: Deafhood 201. Deadline to register: November 28, 2026

🌟Deafhood Series Bundle: Take all 3 Deafhood courses together and save 20% (must pay in full [$516] at time of registration). 💲🌟 Deadline to register: September 30, 2026

👉👉Note: If you took Deafhood 101 and 201 more than 5 years ago, we strongly encourage retaking one of these courses due to major curriculum updates.

For more details: www.museumofdeaf.org/deafhood-institue
Questions: [email protected]

08/21/2026

Saturday, September 19th from 10am to 4pm!

Deaf Cultural Festival will have Deaf films and ASL Alphabet Watercolor Workshop by deaf artist Marie Qualls.

MDHAC is proud to be one of the partnerships for Deaf Cultural Festival at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. MDHAC's booth will be there so come visit us!

Pre-Register for tickets: https://nelson-atkins.org/events/festivals/deaf-cultural-festival/

https://www.facebook.com/share/19GdTpdcw4/

08/19/2026

🌟🚨Deafhood Institute Announces Fall Schedule: A Three-Part Journey to Consciousness, Community & Change! Deepen your understanding of Deafhood, restore Deaf identity, and become a change‑maker in your community.

👉Deafhood 101 (virtual on zoom)
DESCRIPTION: Deafhood 101 introduces the “Deaf Being” and uncovers the hidden discourses behind medical and educational control of Deaf lives. Explore surdinalism, Deafhood vs deafness, identity, eugenics, deficit thinking, and “1,001 victories” to recognize the unlimited potential of Deaf people and your role in our ecosystem.

👉Deafhood 201 (virtual on zoom)
DESCRIPTION: Deafhood 201 builds on 101 to examine impact of oralism, residential schools, and the non‑Deaf “system” shaping Deaf lives. We explore Deaf Identity Restoration, Deaf clubs and third places, and why engaging in critical discourses is key to healing and building a positive, holistic future for our community. Prerequisite: Deafhood 101.

👉Deafhood 301- THE LAB (virtual on zoom)
DESCRIPTION: This is a space for practice-in-action. Participants design and take real actions in their communities, then reflect and refine to build self‑agency. Through guided practice, you learn what can block change, how systems respond, and how to stay present while creating tangible outcomes. Prerequisite: Deafhood 201.

🌟Deafhood Series Bundle: Take all 3 Deafhood courses together and save 20% (must pay in full [$516] at time of registration). 💲🌟

👉👉Note: If you took Deafhood 101 and 201 more than 5 years ago, we strongly encourage retaking one of these courses due to major curriculum updates.

For more details: www.museumofdeaf.org/deafhood-institue
Questions: [email protected]

08/19/2026

Ready to walk, run, and connect? Watch the video (https://youtu.be/BD39nGySHqY) to learn more about the 2026 Fourth Annual 5K for All, a shared signing community event! www.museumofdeaf.org/annual5k

Join us at our new location on Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 7:30 to 11 a.m. at the Museum of Deaf History, Arts & Culture in Olathe, Kansas.

Pre-registration is required. Learn more and register at:
www.museumofdeaf.org/annual5k

08/11/2026

Save the date! Saturday, September 19th from 10am to 4pm!

MDHAC is proud to be one of the partnerships for Deaf Cultural Festival at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

https://www.facebook.com/share/19GdTpdcw4/

08/08/2026

If you are a Deaf artist, please feel free to participate. The survey is anonymous and does not ask for your name.

The purpose of this survey is to better understand what Deaf artists need: access, support, artistic interests, career development, and other resources that may help artists move forward.

Your responses will help DCAW better understand the needs of Deaf artists and share that information with arts professionals, organizations, funders, and community leaders. This information can help build stronger support, create better opportunities, and guide the future growth of DCAW.

Thank you for taking the time to participate.

Welcome! Deaf Cultural Arts & Wellness (DCAW) is conducting this survey to better understand the experiences, strengths, barriers, needs, and opportunities of Deaf artists and creatives. You do not need to be a professional artist to participate. Your experiences matter. Your responses will help str...