Well, online is usually a terrible place to begin with anyway. You never know who you're really getting to know. For all you know, the person you're talking to is a 50 year old guy who is hearing pretending to be a 21 year old Deaf guy who is a college student. I would take Calvin's advice and start to go to Deaf coffee meet ups. You live in freaking California! There are tons of meet ups out there! Ton's of groups and events for you to go to and meet people face to face and in a group setting and not have to worry about meeting up with a creeper and having something happen or god knows what! Don't you see those stories about stuff going wrong with meet ups on Craig's list and Reddit? You can never be too careful with those type of things! At least with meetups there are groups of people and you're in a public area with lots of people... ( Witnesses as I like to call them. )
Secondly, you're young. I know a relationship seems like the "bees knees" and everything... " I'm only 27 don't let me fool you or anything" but you learn that being single is honestly the best time to focus on yourself. I know you say you're not jumping on the first guy and everything, but you seem rather hasty to be in a relationship if you are so hasty to seek needing one online and everything. The more you seek something, the more it avoids you. Try waiting and letting things come to you. Good things come to those who wait. If you rush something, ( especially looking for a relationship ) you're never going to find one that you're going to be happy with. Be happy with you and being single and let it come to you. You're young, attractive and seem intelligent enough... enjoy having fun and focusing on you... all good things in time.
P.S. There are creepers, everywhere....
welcome to Amber22!