Deaf Terminology
Guidelines and best practices by The Canadian Association of the Deaf
Topics
Phases of consultation
Sectors
Areas of impact
Added on January 29, 2025
Summary
The Canadian Association of the Deaf provides this overview of terminology. There are many terms and understanding the differences is important. These terms include:
deaf
Deaf (with capital D)
deafened (Also known as late-deafened)
hard of hearing
hearing impaired
person who is deaf
manual deaf, Signing deaf
oral deaf
deaf-mute
Deaf-plus
Check out this resource to ensure you are using the right terminology.
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Resources for Federally Regulated Organizations
Collection
This collection contains various resources that can help Federally Regulated Organizations in the various process of preparing and implementing a consultation on accessibility and inclusion.