Deaf with a capital "D" means a person who:

• Has some hearing loss since birth or at young age
• Uses ASL all his/her life
• Socializes with Deaf and hearing friends in ASL
• Accepts his/her different ways of life
• Prefers to be called Deaf, not hearing impaired or deaf and dumb

deaf with a small "d" means a person who:

• Has some hearing loss, may wear a hearing aid
• Prefers to communicate with voice, may not know sign language