Our History 
Deafblind UK was launched in 1928 by a small group of deafblind people and their carers to offer mutual support and understanding in the face of conditions they found 'unjustifiably cruel and hard.' Since then, Deafblind UK has developed into a national charity chaired by a deafblind person.
The original name for the organisation was the National Deaf Blind Helpers League, and later the National Deaf Blind League. A milestone was reached in 1963 when a complex of twelve flats designed for deafblind adults to live independently was opened at Rainbow Court in Peterborough. This was the only such development in the United Kingdom.
Further flats, bedsits and an office block/community room were added in 1971. A unique see-by-touch garden was created in 1990, stocked with plants specially chosen for their textures and fragrances.
In September 1996 the National Deafblind League became Deafblind UK, with a bright new logo and modern image. Headquarters staff moved to the centre of Peterborough whilst the office complex at Rainbow Court was redeveloped to become the National Training and Rehabilitation centre for deafblind people and those who support them.
Today
Today, the charity supports more people with a combined sight and hearing loss than ever before and its pioneering services continue to go from strength to strength. With a central Head Office and
conferencing suite now based at the flagship
National Centre for Deafblindness in Peterborough and regional staff throughout Britain the charity’s doors are always open to anyone wishing to learn more about Deafblindness and the lives of deafblind people. These lives are epitomised in our
Heritage Exhibition which was kindly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and contains the complete history of deafblind people dating back from the time of the Venerable Bede to the present day.
