d/Deaf

A convention used to distinguish between two meanings of the word deaf. Uppercase "Deaf" refers to people who identify as culturally Deaf and are part of the Deaf community, sharing a common language (sign language), values, and social norms. Lowercase "deaf" is an audiological term describing the condition of having significant hearing loss. The notation "d/Deaf" is used inclusively to encompass both cultural identity and audiological status. This distinction matters because not all people with hearing loss identify with Deaf culture, and cultural identity shapes communication preferences, technology needs, and accessibility requirements.