10 More Costume Ideas For the Deaf Community

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[Image Description: A thumb, outlined in white, signs “10” with accompanying text that reads: “KODAheart’s [10] More Costume Ideas for the Deaf Community!” The background image is an orange jack o'lantern bucket on its side with candy corn and candy pumpkins spilling out.]

Here is another list of deaf culture costumes this year for you and your family to choose from! If you haven’t come up with a costume already our list might have an idea for you. Some of them may require some creativity and some artistic skill but are sure to be a hit!

1. Dress up as a typical deaf-hearing household item, the light signaler! Make a giant light bulb costume and carry a flashlight! Extra points if you can emulate Convo’s colorful lights! For more ideas check out our list of #throwbacks of US Deaf Culture.

Image Description: A series of line drawings that demonstrate the of the process of creating this costume. From left to right, a line drawing of a cardboard box with a label that reads “cardboard”, a plus sign, a line drawing of a paint can with a paint brush with a label that reads “Paint”, an equal sign, and a line drawing of a person wearing a light bulb costume.

2. Support a University that has historically served deaf students! Choose your favorite college mascot; the Gallaudet Bison, CSUN Matador or RIT tiger! Extra points if your parents are alumni of the school you chose!

Image Description: A series of line drawings that demonstrate the of the process of creating this costume. From left to right, a line drawing of a folded shirt and pants with a label that reads, “School Colors”, a plus sign, a line drawing of a paint can with a paint brush with a label that reads “mask or face paint”, an equal sign, and a line drawing of two people. The person on the left holds a tiger mask. The person on the right holds a bison mask.

3. Celebrate the accomplishments of successful Codas! For instance, grab a robe and gavel and dress up as Judge Homer Thornberry! This Texas-native was appointed by President Johnson!

Image Description: A series of line drawings that demonstrate the of the process of creating this costume. From left to right, a line drawing of folded clothes with a label that reads “Graduation Gown”, a plus sign, a line drawing of a gavel with a label that reads “gavel”, an equal sign, and a line drawing of a person dressed as a judge.

4. How about dressing up as your favorite ASL Idiom? Our pick? SWALLOW-FISH! Create a cardboard fish and attach it to your collar. Spend the evening convincing your friends that you are totally gullible. Need ideas? Check out our list of k/coda talk phrases!

Image Description: A series of line drawings that demonstrate the of the process of creating this costume. From left to right, a line drawing of a cardboard box with a label that reads, “cardboard”, a plus sign, a line drawing of a paint can with a paint brush with a label that reads “paint”, an equal sign, and a line drawing of a person with a cardboard cutout of a fish attached to his neck.

5. Think about #deafhistory! In honor of Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of Girl Scouts of America., dress up as your favorite Girl Scout Cookie box!

Image Description: A series of line drawings that demonstrate the of the process of creating this costume. From left to right, a line drawing of a cardboard box with a label that reads, “cardboard”, a plus sign, a line drawing of a paint can with a paint brush with a label that reads “paint”, an equal sign, and a line drawing of a person wearing a costume of a girl scout cookies box.

6. Be a VRS operator! All you need is a contrasting solid color shirt and a headset. Don’t forget to don a name-tag with your interpreter number.

Image Description: A series of line drawings that demonstrate the of the process of creating this costume. From left to right, a line drawing of a folded shirt and pants with a label that reads, “black clothes”, a plus sign, a line drawing of a headset with a label that reads “headset”, an equal sign, and a line drawing of a person dressed as a VRS operator.

 

7. Channel your best Lon Chaney! This coda actor was known as the man with 1,000 faces. His work included roles as Frankenstein, the Phantom of the Opera, and so many more. In honor of him, try to have your own “thousand faces” by continuously changing your masks all evening!

Image Description: A series of line drawings that demonstrate the of the process of creating this costume. From left to right, a line drawing of a folded shirt and pants with a label that reads, “black clothes”, a plus sign, a line drawing of a mask with a label that reads “masks”, an equal sign, and a line drawing of a person with a Frankenstein mask on their face holding several other masks in each hand.

8. You’re a masterpiece! Get colorful and dress-up as your favorite Chuck Baird painting! For inspiration check out this site.

Image Description: A series of line drawings that demonstrate the of the process of creating this costume. From left to right, a line drawing of cardboard with a label that reads, “cardboard”, a plus sign, a line drawing of a paint can with a paint brush with a label that reads “paint”, an equal sign, and a line drawing of a person wearing a costume of a flower around their head.

9. Grab your football gear and support these current deaf community NFL stars;  coda, Marqise Lee, or deaf athlete, Derrick Coleman. Find their jerseys online!

Image Description: A series of line drawings that demonstrate the of the process of creating this costume. From left to right, a line drawing of a folded shirt and pants with a label that reads, “Jersey”, a plus sign, a line drawing of a helmet with a label that reads “sports gear”, an equal sign, and a line drawing of a person wearing a sports uniform with the number one on it holding a football helmet.

10. Take a cue from ASL Literature and put together your best Jabberwocky costume! Get creative using old clothing, paint, cardboard, and other items. Use your imagination and show us what this mythical creature looks like to you!

Image Description: A series of line drawings that demonstrate the of the process of creating this costume. From left to right, a line drawing of a folded shirt and pants with a label that reads, “modify old clothes”, a plus sign, a line drawing of a paint can with a paint brush with a label that reads “paint”, an equal sign, and a question mark.

For even more ideas, take a look at last year’s list 10 costume ideas for the Deaf community! If you use one of these ideas above, let us know how it turned out! We’d love to share- send us your pictures!