For discussion:
Deaf versus deaf:
- ‘Deaf’ (with a capital letter): Denotes cultural identity and membership in a community that uses sign language, such as American Sign Language (ASL)
- ‘deaf’ (with a lower case letter): A medical or descriptive term for a hearing impairment (Note: A person who is deaf may not use sign language or identify with Deaf culture)
Thoughts:
TE: My understanding is that Deaf culture (with a capital 'D') refers to communities that use sign language as their primary mode of communication.
For discussion:
Deaf versus deaf:
Thoughts:
TE: My understanding is that Deaf culture (with a capital 'D') refers to communities that use sign language as their primary mode of communication.
For USA views on this topic, see:
https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/52285-The-importance-of-deaf-culture
I think New Zealand explains it even more clearly:
https://www.deaf.org.nz/resource/fact-sheet-what-is-deaf-culture/
Note: This would be an authoritative reference for New Zealand.