The award winning National Centre for Deafblindness is the dream of a deafblind woman who felt very strongly that this devastating disability needed to be put firmly on the map. Most people realise that there are deaf people and equally that there are blind people but very few people realise that there are people that have lost both senses. When people become deafblind they lose their independence, their communication and their mobility.
The centre is here to raise the awareness of deafblindness and represent a beacon of hope to all deafblind people. The only one of its kind in Europe, this unique building houses many special features that may need to be pointed out to sighted hearing people but literally make it home from home for disabled people particularly the deafblind. In fact in most cases it will be the only place a deafblind person can be completely independent apart from in their own homes. The centre was built in complete consultation with deafblind people and was opened in June 2003 by Earl Spencer. We didn't sit and think 'what would a deafblind person want?' we asked them every step of the way.
It's a very impressive looking building from the outside with an exceptionally large canopy at the entrance to allow people with guides, guide dogs or wheel chairs to get out of a car without getting soaked when it's raining. There are double sized disabled car parking spaces next to the building to allow people to be guided comfortably out of a car especially with guide dogs or wheel chairs.
As you walk up to the doors, which open automatically, a blast of warm air from above is the indication that you have entered the building. The reception desk has a large tactile map of the building and is labelled in Large print, Braille and Moon allowing deafblind people to navigate themselves around the building independently. There are corresponding tactile signs on the outside of each room so people can check they are in the right place. The whole building is on one floor and is completely circular with no corridors, making it really easy to get round
Every detail of the centre has been carefully planned and thought about and the result is a fantastic building that is totally accessible to anyone with a disability. The proof of course is what disabled and deafblind people actually think and the feedback we've had so far has all been excellent.
Features of the building
