In simple terms, the Deaf Community consists of those deaf people who use sign language and who socialise with other deaf sign language users.  It may also be expanded to include other sign language users such as families and friends of deaf people, and professionals in the field. There is often some debate on exactly which parties are included in the Deaf Community, and which are not.  We can however, make a generalization and say that the Deaf Community consists of BSL users.

In the UK many deaf people may have attended the same schools, frequented the same deaf clubs, even share many friends and acquaintances.  They often have similar life experiences, as well as a common language and educational background.  This resulted in a Deaf Culture, with members sharing many social beliefs, behaviors, art, literary traditions, history and values.

Many of those deaf people who pride themselves on being part of this Culture refer to themselves as being Deaf with a capital “D” as opposed to deaf with a small “d”.  You could think of it in simple terms such as “Deaf” are BSL users, whereas “deaf“ are people like the elderly who now have a hearing loss.  This second group also includes some people who have become deaf through illness or accident, but their preferred language is written or spoken English.

However, in recent years many clubs have closed due to funding cuts and other reasons.  In addition, many deaf schools have also closed, having been replaced by specialist units within mainstream hearing schools.  What effect this will have on traditional Deaf Culture remains to be seen.