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Ahsanullah Mohammad working with his teacher at school. © Zul Mukhida / Sightsavers

Ahsanullah Mohammad working with his teacher at school. © Zul Mukhida / Sightsavers

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A chance of a brighter future

Of the 72 million children who are out of school, it's estimated that a third are children with disabilities. 11-year-old Ahsanullah Mohammad, who lost his vision in early childhood after contracting measles, is an example of how Sightsavers and our partners in developing countries are trying to eliminate the inequalities that are too often related to disability.

ABC, one of Sightsavers' partners, operates a rehabilitation programme for visually impaired people in the area. Ahsanullah was taken to the Islamia eye hospital in Dhaka, where he was certified as irreversibly blind. It was devastating news for his family, but with the advice of the rehabilitation assistant his parents were able to enroll him in mainstream education.

He now attends a primary school which was made accessible for visually impaired students, and where the teachers had received specific training from ABC. Children like Ahsanullah are provided with Braille books and a white cane, so he can make his way to and from school. He also has the assistance of a rehabilitation worker, who visits the school twice a month to train him in orientation and mobility techniques.

Without all of this, he would never have had the opportunity to receive an education.

Ahsanullah's teacher, Ms Nargis Akter, explains: "if Ahsanullah had not had the opportunity to come to school and have an education, then he may have had to turn to begging to make a living".

Ahsanulah has gained a new level of confidence by being accepted by his sighted friends. When asked what he would like to be when he grows up, he replies: "I would now love to become a doctor."

Now he has the chance of a brighter future.