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1268 – The first spectacles were made.
1550 – First school for the deaf started by Spanish monks who educated deaf children in Madrid, using some spoken and very little sign.
1653 – First reference to deafblindness - Martha Hatfield (deafblind).
1664 – “The natural language of the hand” was published by John Bulwer.
1700 – The simple ear trumpet
1750’s – Diderot – philosophical discussions about deafblindness.
1760 – Thomas Braidwood founded the first British Academy for the deaf.
1771 – The beginning of embossed type and education for the blind.
1776 – Charles De L’eppe published “Instruction of the deaf and dumb.”
1776 – “French and German system” developed using sign to teach written language.
1784 – First school for blind established in Europe, “L’Institution National des Juenes Aveulgles in Paris by Valentino Hauy
1793 – Royal Blind School in Edinburgh established.
1796 – James Mitchell (deafblind) born. He died in 1869.
1820 – Elizabeth Jones (deafblind) born 26.07.1829. She died on 13.12.1904.
1821 – Development of Braille by Louis Braille born in 1809, died at age 43 from TB.
1824 – Birth of Thomas Rhodes Armitage. Dr Armitage did much to help establish the RNIB and Braille as the standard embossed type which enables blind people to read and write.
1827 – Mention of ‘finger alphabet’ in the Edinburgh Advertiser.
1829 – Laura Bridgeman born 1829, developed Scarlet Fever at age 2 and as a result developed deafblindness and died in 1904.
1831 – Dr Samuel Howe first director for the School for the blind in US which later became known as The Perkins School for the Blind. He went on to teach Laura Bridgeman and she was the inspiration for Helen Keller. He died in 1876.
1836 – David Tate, discovered on Shetland Isles.
1841 – Eliza Cooter (deafblind) was born. She died in 1860.
1842 – Charles Dickens’ book “American Notes” mentions meeting Laura Bridgeman.
1849 – The beginning of Voluntary Blind Societies
1850 – Blind workshop established at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
1860 – Australian School for the Deaf and Dumb and Blind in New South Wales.
1860 – Robert Dewar (deafblind) died in 1877. Attended Asylum of the Blind of Scotland in 1870 – “Used as an experiment.” Subject of a book written by George MacCulloch called the ‘Story of a Blind Mute.’
1868 – Home for older deaf girls, to become Poolmead, the present RNID peoples home for the Deafblind.
1868 – RNIB established.
1873 – George Wallis published his book, “Language of Touch – a narrative illustrating the instruction of the Blind and Deaf Mute” based on a deafblind lady called Mary Bradley (not baptised and place of birth not known, died in 1866) and corresponded with Laura Bridgeman. Mary attended the Manchester Institution for the Deaf and Dumb 1849 till her death.
1876 – Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. Also used influence to implement the practice of ‘oralism’ banning the use of sign language in 1880 at the Milan conference – thus restricting communication for deafblind.
1877 – Home teachers for the blind to teach embossed type – Braille, Moon etc.
1879 – Sarah Edith and Amy Gertrude Bratt (deafblind) born 20.05.1879. Significant in that they were affected by the Oralism methodology.
1880 – Milan Congress – a turning point for deaf education – sign and speech
1880 – Helen Keller born 27.06.1880. She died 01.06.1968. She was referred to Alexander Graham Bell who originally designed the telephone to help his deaf mother. After Helen Keller died, Helen Keller international was set up.
1883 – Mary Hare Grammar School was developed which used the oral system not sign language.
1901 – First electric hearing aid (radio aid)
1910 – First school for deafblind children in St Petersburg, Russia.
1911 – The RNID was officially named.
1921 – An English photographer who had lost his sight decided to use a white cane to let people in his community know he was blind.
1928 – National Deafblind League formed by group of friends of deafblind people. Latterly to be called Deafblind UK.
1931 – In North America, the introduction of the White Cane is attributed to the Lions Clubs International. In 1930, a Lions Club member watched as a man who was blind attempted to cross the street with a black cane that was barely visible to motorists against the dark pavement. The Lions decided to paint the cane white to make it more visible. In 1931, the Lions Club International adopted the promotion of white canes for people who are blind as a national programme.
1934 – Guide Dogs for the Blind Association was established. It was originally used to guide blind soldiers after the war.
1950 - Behind the ear hearing aid available.
1964 – Acoustic coupler invented by Robert Weitbrecht (himself deaf), similar to the American textphone.
1984 – Cochlear implant pioneered.
1988 – Gallaudet students revolted at a hearing president, they wanted a deaf president.
1991 – Typetalk open – 300 calls on first day.
2001 – Deafblind Scotland established. “Hands Around Scotland” – ceremonial giving of flag from Peterborough.
Sense was founded in 1955 as a self-help and support group for the parents of children whose disabilities were neither recognised nor provided for. The children were born deafblind as a result of thier mothers catching rubella (German Measles) in pregnancy. 'The Rubella Group,' as it was known, was founded by Peggy Freeman MBE and the late Margaret Brock MBE, whose daughter and son respectively were rubella handicaped. Sense Scotland was formalised in 1985 and now has a number of years experience in providing highly specialised services.