* "D" Deaf: This is used to refer to a cultural group of people who share a language (ASL) and a sense of community based on shared experiences of deafness. It's often capitalized to show respect for this identity.
* "d" deaf: This refers to the audiological condition of having a hearing loss. It's not a cultural identifier and doesn't necessarily imply anything about a person's language, identity, or culture.
Here's an example:
* "I am a Deaf person" means "I am a member of the Deaf community and identify with its culture."
* "He is deaf" means "He has a hearing loss," but doesn't necessarily say anything about his cultural identity.
Important Note: While there's a difference in meaning, how someone prefers to be identified is ultimately up to them. Always be respectful of an individual's self-identification.