deaf/Deaf-distinction: origin?

[Denise]

My understanding is that small d deaf denotes the physical inability to
hear, and big D deaf is used by those that choose to Sign Language as their
primary mode of communication, and adopt the values of the general Deaf
community. Unfortunately, I don't know empirically where I can back this up,
I learned it from the Deaf community that taught me ASL 27 years ago. I
wonder if there are any Deaf/deaf individuals on this list. I can also
cross-post to another list where I know there are culturally Deaf members,
with this group's permission, of course.

Denise Wetzler, M. Ed.
ASL Interpreter
Nationally Certified,
Arizona Licensed
 
-----Original Message-----
From: slling-l-bounces at majordomo.valenciacc.edu
[mailto:slling-l-bounces at majordomo.valenciacc.edu] On Behalf Of Mim
Vermeerbergen
Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2008 6:47 AM
To: A list for linguists interested in signed languages
Subject: [SLLING-L] deaf/Deaf-distinction: origin?

Dear colleagues,

It is often reported that the convention to distinguish between deaf  
(with lower case d) and Deaf with upper case started with Woodward's  
paper "Implications for Sociolinguistic Research among the  
Deaf" (published in Sign Language Studies, Volume 1, in 1972).  
However, when consulting this paper, I found that there was no sign  
of the distinction.

I assume that the source of the distinction might be another  
publication by Woodward (possibly his 1973 dissertation or his 1982  
"How You Gonna Get to Heaven....." book) but I haven't been able to  
confirm this.

Therefor this message: does someone maybe know where and when the  
deaf/Deaf convention started?
Many thanks in advance.

Kind regards,

Myriam Vermeerbergen
mvermeer at mac.com
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