About Deafblind UK

In the UK today, there are an estimated 24,000 deafblind people. When the number of elderly people with deteriorating sight and hearing are taken into account, this number rises to 250,000.

Deafblind UK specialises in meeting the needs and developing the potential of adults who are both deaf and blind. Deafblind UK is unique in that the Chair and majority of directors are themselves deafblind and the membership of more than 3,300 deafblind people takes an active part in the day-to-day running and development of the charity.

A range of comprehensive services is available to deafblind members, their support assistants and professionals in this field. They include training in communication and rehabilitation skills; a free 24 hour helpline, accessible using specially adapted equipment; a regional network of staff, support workers and volunteers; a varied leisure programme and a range of publications in large print, Braille, Moon and on audio-tape.

Through these services, all delivered by specially trained staff, Deafblind UK aims to empower deafblind people to live life to the full.

Our history

Deafblind UK was founded in 1928 as the National Deafblind Helpers' League. It constituted a group of deafblind people and their supporters who wanted to provide support for this hitherto unacknowledged disability.

It grew from a small Birmingham-based group, keeping in touch with others by correspondence, to the organisation it is today. In October 1996 it changed its name to Deafblind UK as part of a major development plan and now supports more than 3,300 deafblind people across the UK.

In 2003, Deafblind UK opened the National Centre for Deafblindness. The Centre is the realisation of deafblind people’s own vision - a building specifically designed to meet their very special needs in terms of accessibility and communication. As well as serving as the charity’s national headquarters, it is also a unique educational resource which introduces people to the world of deafblindness.