Our History
We’ve spent over 30 years as a Scottish charity working at the forefront of deafblindness.
Our timeline below takes you through our history and the biggest changes we have achieved with your support.
The National Deaf Blind Helpers League Was Formed
1928
Our story began in 1928 when a group of deafblind people and their relatives founded the National Deaf-Blind Helpers League, the first organisation in the UK which offered support for deafblind people.They worked with people who were deafblind, encouraging confidence and providing practical help.
Over time, it grew to become Deafblind UK, one of Europe’s leading authorities on acquired deafblindness, offering support to deafblind people in England and Wales.
Establishing a Base in Scotland
1989
Dorrie Moore served as Divisional Secretary for Scotland for 10 years and regularly represented Scotland at Deafblind UK and national meetings. She campaigned tirelessly for a Liaison Officer for Scotland, and her efforts were rewarded when Drena O’Malley was employed part-time in September 1989, occupying a small office in Barrowfield complex.
In the early days Drena worked alone with only the occasional phone call for support, but her driving force and determination has made the last 20 years memorable and successful. Unfortunately, a few members who fought hard to see a Scottish office open did not live to see the reality, but deafblind people in Scotland today are now benefiting from their foresight and dedication. The voice of deafblind people is heard loudly and clearly.
In 1989 there were 66 Scottish members and one part-time staff member. Within two years Ellen Cattanach and Wendy Jack had joined Drena and Deafblind UK made a momentous decision — that any funds this little team could raise in Scotland would be spent in Scotland, and a Scottish bank account was opened.
The big move to Lenzie
1994
Over five years, the number of members doubled, more staff were appointed, and the Scottish office became a vital resource for deafblind people, their families, their carers, and professionals.
With our growing size, we moved to a new office in an apartment block in Lenzie.
Launch of the Guide Communicator Service
1995
After many years campaigning for the right of deafblind people to receive communication and guiding support, we received funding to promote the provision of a guide/communicator service by local authorities and health boards. This laid the foundations for one of Europe’s largest guide/communicator services.
From serving 4 people in the Glasgow area to the current provision, the development of the service has been far from easy. However over the years, one by one, local authorities were convicted of the specialist needs of deafblind people and most contracted with Deafblind Scotland to provide the guide/communicator service.
Today Deafblind Scotland provides more than 50,000 hours of service to 180 deafblind people throughout Scotland making our service one of the largest Communication Support services in Europe.
First SAGoD Meeting
1997
The first Scottish Advisory Group on Deafblindness (SAGoD) meeting was held. SAGoD’s aim was to make a formal meeting fully accessible to deafblind people.
The Scottish Advisory Group on Deafblindness was established on 20th November 1997 when a group of deafblind people from all over Scotland, of various ages, and using a range of communication methods met to discuss their needs.
It was agreed that it was necessary to meaningfully involve Scottish deafblind people in the decision-making processes of the organisation as well those of the statutory and government bodies and in order to do this it was agreed to meet quarterly to discuss issues, learn about meeting protocol and skills, and to
inform the direction of the organisation.
Launch of Deafblind Scotland
2001
Our separate, self-governing Scottish organisation was proposed and Deafblind Scotland was launched in 2001 with a ‘Hands Around Scotland’ relay, where members were sponsored to carry the Deafblind Scotland flag across the length and breadth of the country by unusual means.
We launched with a brand-new board of directors, seven of whom were themselves deafblind. This aim remains today, as we believe deafblind people should run their own organisation; and that they should always comprise more than 50% of the Board.
Deafblind Studies Diploma launched
2002
Since 1997, ourselves and many other sensory organisations had become aware that there was a need for a specialist qualification in Deafblindness.
Since then, behind the scenes, modules were developed, improved, and added to by a group of experts in the field who gave their time voluntarily to develop the course. Finally in 2002 their efforts were rewarded when a new two-year Diploma in Deafblind Studies was launched.
Dozens of students have achieved this specialist diploma over the years bringing a new professionalism to workers in the field of deafblindness.
Advocating for the rights of deafblind people
2005
Section 7 guidance was introduced in England and Wales in an unprecedented step towards recognition of the unique nature of deafblindness.
We marched on the Scottish Parliament in March 2005 to lobby MSPs for similar rights for Scottish deafblind people, emphasizing the need for appropriate services and recognition of deafblindness as a distinct disability.
Nearly 20 years later, we are still advocating for deafblindness to be recognised as a distinct, unique disability. In fact, we are taking it one step further, and campaigning for the Nordic definition of deafblindness to be recognised in Scotland. At our roots, we are an organisation which aims to amplify deafblind voices, and advocate for the necessary changes needed to ensure that deafblind people are respected, and supported to live leading, fulfilling lives. We believe that the Nordic definition is the first step in making this vision a reality.
Raising Funds for the ‘Field of Dreams’
2013
As our organisation grew in size, there was growing support for a new home for Deafblind Scotland. A potential site for a new building was first discussed in 2006. And in 2007 members began to fundraise for their Field of Dreams.
In 2013 after land was bought, and planning permission granted, others joined in the fundraising effort raising in total £200,000 in sponsorship over the years.
They ran, abseiled, cycled, motorcycled, walked, climbed, rowed, and kicked a ball, all the way to a new Learning and Development Centre for deafblind people.
A dream come true...
2017
After five long years fundraising, planning and ensuring it was fully deafblind accessible, we opened our brand new Learning and Development Centre in Lenzie!
The building provides a centre of excellence for deafblind people, with a hub for activities, training and development, a daily resource for more than 300 deafblind people in the Glasgow area, and a further resource for the 2,700 people across Scotland who are severely dual sensory impaired.
It has been our home now for the past 7 years, and it really is a hub of activity- everyday at our centre is different!
Looking to the future...
We are proud of our heritage but equally ambitious for our future. We have seen a lot of positive changes over the years, but for people living with deafblindness or varying degrees of dual sensory loss, we’re entering a new era of possibilities and challenges.
As an organisation, we are committed to achieving our vision - of a world where deafblind people have the support and recognition necessary to be fully equal citizens.