Celebrating Disability Pride Month with a Groundbreaking International Report on Blind and Partially Sighted People

Date posted: 14th July 2025

During Disability Pride Month, Thomas Pocklington Trust, today 14 July 2025, has launched a pivotal report highlighting international approaches to achieving equality of blind and partially sighted (BPS) people, with a special focus on education and employment.

Charles Colquhoun, CEO of Thomas Pocklington Trust, emphasises the importance of global collaboration:

“As so many countries are facing very similar issues that are encountered by blind and partially sighted people, it is essential that there is greater co-operation around the world. This report is an example of the lessons that can be learnt through such co-operation.”

The comprehensive study, utilising a scoping report, desk-based research, and semi-structured interviews, showcases a diverse range of practices aimed at enhancing access to education and employment of BPS people. The first two sections of this report highlight the diverse range of practice intended to achieve equality in employment and education. The final section examines the role of peer support structures and the impact of anti-discrimination legislation – matters closely aligned with discussions of employment and education.

Key Findings

• Peer mentoring significantly boosts academic and career success of BPS individuals.
• Robust data collection is crucial for understanding and improving the life experiences and outcomes of BPS people.

Despite progress, the report highlights that without appropriate action, the academic and career success of generations of BPS people remains at risk. This Disability Pride Month, let’s celebrate the strides made and commit to furthering equality of BPS individuals worldwide.

About the Authors

The report was written and edited by BPS people which added to the design of the methodology, who already had some knowledge of the subject matter because of lived experience. The research team comprised Beverley Duguid (Supervisor) Martha Foulds (Research Assistant) and Yanan Yu (Project Assistant).

Thomas Pocklington Trust is dedicated to improving the lives of blind and partially sighted people across the UK through education, employment, and social inclusion initiatives.

Download or read the report here.