Deaf Culture

The community, language, and shared identity of Deaf people

Overview

Deaf culture refers to the shared values, history, arts, and social norms of communities whose members use a sign language and see deafness as a cultural and linguistic identity rather than only a medical condition. The capitalized word Deaf is often used to denote this cultural identity. Deaf schools, clubs, sports, theatre, and poetry have been central to its development, and landmarks include the founding of Gallaudet University in 1864 and the 1988 Deaf President Now protest. Values such as visual communication and collective identity shape everyday etiquette, like getting attention with a tap or a wave.