Final answer:
Deaf culture is a distinct community with its own language, schools, and customs, centered around American Sign Language, and it includes those born deaf or closely connected to someone deaf.
Step-by-step explanation:
Those born deaf or who have close contact with someone deaf, such as family members, are often considered to be part of deaf culture. This culture encompasses its own language, schools, and customs. Within the United States, the primary mode of communication for this community is American Sign Language (ASL), which is a visual language comprising signs and gestures.
Deaf culture places great emphasis on preserving traditions like the use of sign language, and often promotes education within special schools designed for deaf students, rather than solely mainstreaming and focusing on verbal communication and lip reading. It is a vibrant, integral culture that offers a shared identity and common experiences for those who are deaf or are closely involved with the deaf community.