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Globally, 1.4 million children are blind. The UN's Education for All global initiative, WHO’s global initiative VISION 2020, and many other international initiatives aim to support the educational, medical, rehabilitation and social needs of these children as a priority. Programmes and policies nearly always developed without consulting children who are blind (CWB). As a result, they often fail to identify and address the issues and concerns of CWB. In order to move programme planners from a 'medical model' to a 'comprehensive model(Psycho-social-medical)' of disability and allow them to develop more holistic programmes; qualitative data is required which describe children's own perception.

This study was undertaken in rural Bangladesh to explore the perspective of children (CWB) on issues related to their challenges, achievements, hopes, aspirations and identity. Through 18 in-depth qualitative interviews and 4 focus group discussions, conducted in natural settings (home, school, hostel), in native language (Bengali), children (CWB), aged 10 to 15 years, were empowered to share their life experience as a child with blindness; and communicate their needs and vision through rich description of events, thoughts and views.

Results: Analysis of the transcripts identified several themes related to physical and attitudinal environment some of which increase and some decrease the disability. Their learning and development challenges included problems with reading and writing, mobility to school and play ground, exclusion from sports and extracurricular activities. They faced bullying both at home and at school or in the community. They were excluded from religious and cultural events as well as play and social activities. They were concerned about their lack of future prospect of marriage and employment. However, children also described their own personal experience of supportive environment provided by family and friends. Children articulated clearly, their concept of ‘personhood’ and described their ‘vision’ for a better world without poverty, discrimination and conflict.

Stream: Disability, Health

Paper: Voice and Vision of Children who are Blind: Do We Hear and See Them?, The

Muhit is a research fellow at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). His research is focused on blindness in children. He uses both quantitative and qualitative methods for his research. He has recently completed a large scale epidemiological study on the causes of blindness in children in Bangladesh. Cataract blindness in children is also his another research interest. He has designed a large prospective study on cataract in children. He has recently completed qualitative study involving blind children, their parents and service providers. Muhit teaches on the Masters teaching programme of LSHTM, organizes a study unit of community eye health masters programme. He also supervises masters students every year. Muhit has published his research in academic journals. Muhit has attended and presented his research in several international conferences in recent years. He is also actively involved in programme and policy development for prevention of childhood blindness. He was instrumental in designing and developing a national programme for cataract blind children in Bangladesh. He also provides technical advice to international NGOs working in prevention of blindness.