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1 Framingham Health Director Sam Wong wants every resident to get tested for the coronavirus. Framingham is still a red or high-risk community. There is a drive-thru free COVID testing site is available for all residents at Staples HQ in Framingham from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There is a walk-up free testing site at Amazing Things Arts Center on Hollis Street from 3 to 6 p.m.
2. Today is International Day of Sign Languages.
The International Day of Sign Languages is a unique opportunity to support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all deaf people and other sign language users.
In 2020, the World Federation of the Deaf is issuing a Global Leaders Challenge. This challenge aims to promote the use of sign languages by local, national, and global leaders in partnership with national associations of deaf people in each country, as well as other deaf-led organisations.
According to the World Federation of the Deaf, there are approximately 72 million deaf people worldwide. More than 80% of them live in developing countries. Collectively, they use more than 300 different sign languages.
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Sign languages are fully fledged natural languages, structurally distinct from the spoken languages. There is also an international sign language, which is used by deaf people in international meetings and informally when travelling and socializing. It is considered a pidgin form of sign language that is not as complex as natural sign languages and has a limited lexicon.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recognizes and promotes the use of sign languages. It makes clear that sign languages are equal in status to spoken languages and obligates states parties to facilitate the learning of sign language and promote the linguistic identity of the deaf community.
The UN General Assembly has proclaimed 23 September as the International Day of Sign Languages in order to raise awareness of the importance of sign language in the full realization of the human rights of people who are deaf.
The resolution establishing the day acknowledges that early access to sign language and services in sign language, including quality education available in sign language, is vital to the growth and development of the deaf individual and critical to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals. It recognizes the importance of preserving sign languages as part of linguistic and cultural diversity. It also emphasizes the principle of “nothing about us without us” in terms of working with deaf communities.
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3.. CITY of FRAMINGHAM meetings (All are remote unless otherwise noted):
- Framingham Veterans Council at 10:30 a.m.
- Framingham School Committee at 7 p.m.
4. According to the Mayor’s public schedule, Mayor Yvonne Spicer has no public events, but she is expected to attend the Framingham School Committee meeting.
5. Framingham Public Library will hold a knitting, crochet, and yarn crafting social hour tonight at 6 p.m. The library is holding these craft hours on Mondays from 11 a.m. to noon and Wednesdays 6 to 7 p.m. This is not a learn to knit or crochet program. Email for the Zoom link at: framinghamlibrarybookgroups@gmail.com.
MetroWest Medical Center 
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