Wasn't that the whole idea?

I am knee deep in classes. Papers and projects looming above my head. Oy!
I am working on my research paper for my American Sign Language. Joseph signs. He'll speak and sign at the same time. But he does not fit in to the Deaf community. The Deaf culture. Of course not, he's not Deaf. He's been tested over and over, his hearing is fine. Better than fine. ASL is for communicating. He is not a member of the deaf community.
Is he "atypical" is hes "disabled" where does he fit in? I don't like labels never had a need for it, but when he signs people ask "is he deaf" ?
ASL is a tool we use to communicate better. Fatigue and stress can cause his words to become topsy turvy and even sometimes his fine motor skills will fail him.

I am studying the Deaf community and I know as much about it as I would say the Asian community. I am so lost. It is so foreign to me. But I guess that's the whole idea to learn about it right?