What is the “deaf community”?
A community is made up of persons who share common interests. They need not reside in close geographical proximity, but they frequently act together. Most critically, they seek each other s company. They develop means to communicate and to meet with each other. The evidence of these tendencies in deaf people is strong. It can be found in the large number of organizations deaf people have founded and which they vigorously support. Every civilized country with which we are familiar has organizations of, by, and for its deaf citizens. Deaf people have their own literature in many countries, publishing newsletters, books, magazines, and newspapers. They sponsor sporting events, like the World Games of the Deaf, and other activities, among whose purposes is providing the occasion for deaf people to visit with each other. Wherever there are sufficient numbers of deaf people, you will find a Deaf Community. This finding holds true in Argentina and Spain, England and the United States, Israel
