I would defer to my colleagues from NAD to define deaf culture.
Nancy Bloch's Rebuttal:
I want to emphasize that deaf culture is by no means closed to those who do not know sign language. The arts, even music, and other forms of expression are an important part of deaf culture, as is true for other world cultures. The degree of identification with deaf culture varies with the individual, ranging from those who are native signers and hearing children of deaf parents to those who learn sign later in life. All in all, those who see and appreciate various world cultures are more receptive to the richness that the deaf cultural experience has to offer.
Deaf culture should be viewed in the same sense as other world cultures;
that is, sharing a defined language, heritage and norms. Sign language
discourse and shared experiences are vitally important to those who ascribe
to deaf culture. Such persons also function equally as successfully in the
mainstream hearing culture — contrary to popular belief that the deaf and
hearing worlds are totally separate.
