Big “D” Deaf vs. little “d” deaf

Is there really a difference?

Have you ever noticed that Empowering News almost always capitalizes “Deaf”… no, this is not a typo… It is a cultural distinction.

Deaf people do not see deafness as a disability so much as a way of life. By using a capital “D” for Deaf, they are identifying their cultural background. They use the capital “D” to let others know there is more to the word than just the inability to hear. If you see someone use a small “d” deaf, they are referring to the hearing loss that most people think about when they hear the word. Big “D” refers to culture, small “d” refers to physical deafness.

You may also sometimes see d/Deaf or D/deaf, which is referring to both those who have a hearing loss and do not associate with the Deaf Culture as well as those who do follow the culture.

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Deaf Empowerment
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Menasha, WI 54952
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