Founded in 1985, Deafax has touched the lives of over 30,000 deaf people of all ages from across the UK and internationally.  It was set up by Ken Carter, a qualified Teacher of the Deaf and father of a deaf daughter. Ken saw clearly the potential impact that existing and emerging technologies could have on the future lives of deaf and hearing people and this inspired him to found Deafax.  

Deafax is a charitable company dedicated to using technology to improve literacy and life skills and to reducing the feelings of isolation felt by many deaf people.  

Delivering first-class projects, locally, nationally and internationally, Deafax is following its vision of a world where deaf people of all ages have the communication, literacy and interpersonal skills to be able to participate fully in life.

2000s History 2007

• Accommodation - New office at Goldsmiths College, University of London
• Award - Deafax is Charity of the Year of the University Women's Group.
• Award - Lloyds TSB Foundation supports Deafax with staff core funding
• Event - Deafax launches new deaf-friendly training resources at the Law Society
• Partnership - Continued work with BATOD to support Teachers of the Deaf
• Partnership - Deafax participated in the University of Reading Enterprise Experience Scheme
• Training - Deafax West Midlands project is huge success with 167 deaf people receiving support, and 34 organisations getting involved
• Training - Personal development training for deaf BME young people - sponsored by BBC Children in Need
• Training - project linking schools across England, encouraging students to be involved in their own learning plan - sponsored by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
• Research - A return look at the effect of ICT on education, sponsored by Leverhulme Trust

2000s History 2006

• Event - Helen Lansdown appointed Deafax's new CEO
• Event - 21st Anniversary celebrations at the House of Lords hosted by Lord Morris of Manchester
• Event - Deafax meets Vladimir Askkenazy - Vice President of Deafax, at rehearsals with the Philharmonia Orchestra in London.
• Publication - "Transforming Lives through ICT" results from the joint Deafax and BATOD project DCCAP.
• Research - 2 new projects focusing on black, asian and ethnic minority deaf children and young people in London  -sponsored by Bridge House Trust and City Parochial Foundation.
• Research - "Videonet" pilot project looking at webcams and internet video conferencing -sponsored by the Clare Milne Trust
• Research - Money Matters - understanding finance sponsored by Abbey Charitable Trust
• Training - 4th youth project started focusing on personal development - sponsored by Camelot Foundation
  

2000s History 2005

• Launch - "Mark the Milestone"- launch of the deaf-friendly curriculum in Chennai, India - sponsored by the International Community Fund
• Partnership - Involvement in the filming of the DfES ICT Glossary
• Partnership - Collaborated with Citizens online - sponsored by Microsoft
• Research - Development of 6 learning resources for teachers and students sponsored by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
• Research - Evaluation of 3G mobile video - sponsored by 3G
• Research - Virtual Classroom, using long distance learning - sponsored by Sobell Foundation
• Seminar - International Perspectives on ICT and deafness, incl. Professor Des Power, Griffiths University, Australia and Adam Oliver, BT
• Training - 3 projects looking at key personal development areas such as identity, sexual health and interview skills for deaf children and young people -sponsored by Vodafone UK Foundation, NVYO and DfES
• Training - Basic ICT & Literacy Training for deaf adults in the West Midlands sponsored by the Community Fund.
• Training - ECDL (European Computer Driving License) Deaf friendly training begins in conjunction with the British Computer Society
  

2000s History 2004

• Achievement - Deafax launches 'deaf-friendly' ECDL exams supported by the British Computer Society
• Event  - 2 new Vice-presidents appointed. Professor Gordon Marshall and Graham Wallace
• Event - Deafax is launched as a charitable company at the House of Commons by Dr Vinton Cerf.
• Event - Ken Carter steps down from role as CEO to head Deafax's new ICT Research and Development Unit
  

2000s History 2003

• Research  - Phase 3 - ICT, Achievement and Education of Deaf children, training completed - funded by DfES
• Training  - delivery of training courses to deaf adults across the Midlands, Cambridge and Manchester - funded by LSC
  

2000s History 2002

• Event  - Deafax becomes a company limited by guarantee, registered number 4586634, Registered Charity number 1095398
• Event - Dr Vinton Cerf - inventor of the Internet, becomes Deafax Honorary President
• Event - 8 new Vice-presidents appointed. Vladimir Ashkenazy, Malcolm Bruce MP, Evelyn Glennie OBE, Peter Johnson, Julia Kaufman OBE, Lady Winifred Tumin OBE, Eileen Uttley and Lucy Woods
• Partnership - Deafax and BATOD (British Association of Teachers of the Deaf) run the Deaf Children's Communications Aid Project (DCCAP).
• Research  - Phase 2 - ICT, Achievement and Education of Deaf children, module development completed - funded by DfES
  

2000s History 2001

• Achievement - Secured 11th consecutive year of funding from BBC Children in Need
• Award - Exemplary Quality Assurance for Teacher training courses from Teacher Training Agency
• Event - National Conference on ICT and Literacy, hosted by DeafChild India - sponsored by Community fund
• Research  - Phase 1 - ICT, Achievement and Education of Deaf children, evaluation completed - funded by DfES
• Training  - delivered to project in Gambia, funded by Comic Relief
• Training - ICT mentoring course results in 23 successful candidates
  

2000s History 2000

• Event - Millennium Conference - looking at ICT and literacy - sponsored by DfEE
• Launch  - DeafChild International Website
• Launch - DeafChild India starts in Chennai, India - sponsored by Community Fund
• Partnerships - Mentoring courses run jointly with Friends for the Young Deaf (FYD)
• Training - delivered to schools in Australia, Barbados and the Irish and Czech Republics
• Training - ICT training for Teachers of the Deaf sponsored by the DfEE
  

1990s History 1999

• DeafChild International works in Deaf schools in Australian and New Zealand
• Summer University run in partnership with Thames Valley University
• TITLED awarded more funding by The Community Fund
• NNDS - National Network of Deaf Students, sponsored by Marks and Spencer
• Mentoring training for young deaf people enabling them to pass on their experiences

1990s History 1998

• DeafChild UK started
• DeafChild International wins Childnet International award from Cable and Wireless
  

1990s History 1997

• Deaf Tutor Training in Sign Skills funded by Marks and Spencer
• TITLED - Towards IT Literacy and Employment for Deaf people funded by the European Social Fund
  

1990s History 1996

• Telecommunications and Literacy for Unemployed Deaf Adults launched funded by National Lottery
• Predictive software for FE Students funded by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
  

1990s History 1995

• Telecommunications and Literacy for Children launched funded by BBC Children in Need
  

1990s History 1994

• Assets Communication established to improve services for children and adults with learning disabilities.

1990s History 1993

• Signed Speech in Education launched, funded by Carlton TV and Allen Lane Foundation
  

1990s History 1992

• National Deaf Literacy launched, funded by Wates Foundation
• Assets Disability supported by Berkshire Local Education Authority
• National Telecommunications for Deaf Children launched, funded by BBC Children in Need
  

1990s History 1991

• Research Fellowship awarded to Ken Carter by Thames Valley South
  

1990s History 1990

• "Telephones for Deaf Children" continues, funded by BBC Children in Need
  

1980s History 1989

• "Telephones for Deaf Children" launched, funded by British Telecom

1980s History 1988

• 2nd "Deaf Students Can" Conference, funded by the European Union
  

1980s History 1987

• Technology and Deafness Conference, University of Reading, UK
• Deafax Deaf Trustee becomes President of the Student Union at Bulmershe College, Reading, UK
• Development of Deafax, funded by Moorgate Trust, now the John Ellerman Trust
• Chancellor or the University of Reading, Lord Sherfield, launches the Deafax appeal

1980s History 1986

• 1st "Deaf Students Can" Conference
• European Bureau of Deaf Students created, now part of SKILL - National Bureau for Students with Disabilities. www.skill.org.uk

1980s History 1985

• The Deafax Trust is born. It starts as a registered UK charity, no: 326799.
• The National Network of Deaf Students is created, to promote Deaf students in the UK.