Amid the shortage of facilities for specially-abled children in the Valley, the Blind School in Baramulla in north Kashmirs stands as a rare and vital intervention.... it's a sanctuary of dignity, learning, and hope for those pushed to the margins.

Founded in 2012, Blind School Northern Federation of Blind Kashmir was established by late Haji Mohammad Yousuf Khan as a non-profit organisation to ensure that disability does not become a neglect for specially abled children.
Over the years, the school has emerged as a lifeline for children with visual, hearing, and speech impairments, offering them inclusive education, care, and a renewed sense of purpose. It has transformed disability into possibility and struggle into strength.
The Baramulla’s Blind School not only attempts to mitigate the sufferings of specially-abled children but also holds a promise to lead by example even with scarce resources.
Majid Bhat, a student of the school, describes his admission in the school as a turning point in his life.
“After I got admitted here, I felt like I got my vision back,” he said. “I had never thought that life could be so colourful.”
Like many children with disabilities, Majid said he once felt dismissed and overlooked by society. “The school, however, gave me a new meaning and direction in life. If one has hope, one can achieve anything. Disability can’t stop us from shining”.
Nazia Rashid, Principal of the school, notes that opportunity is the key to unlocking the potential of specially-abled children.
“If given a proper chance, these children will do wonders,” she said.
She said many students who were admitted as hopeless cases are today dreaming big and aspiring to create their own identities. “They now believe in themselves and want to set examples for others”.
Majid’s journey reflects that transformation.
After completing Braille education at the school, Majid secured admission in the university.
“My school has made me a dreamer,” he said.
He urged the government to support the institution by providing a building, computers, and timely financial assistance. “This will ensure that students do not face difficulties in the future”.
Sustaining the school remains a constant challenge for the school administration.
“Our’s is a completely private institution and we do not receive consistent financial support. Because of limited resources, we have never had a permanent building. We operate from rented spaces, and whenever we are unable to pay the rent, we are forced to relocate,” said Naseer Ahmad Khan, the co-founder of the school.
In addition to students with visual, hearing, and speech impairments, the school also supports children with Down syndrome, providing assistance based on their individual learning needs.
According to Naseer, the institution follows an inclusive approach, adapting teaching methods to each student instead of forcing them into a uniform system.
“Through personalised attention, life-skills training, and consistent mentorship, the school aims to build confidence and independence among its students, enabling them to participate more fully in everyday life,” he said.
“We teach them sign language and other essential skills. We want them to feel special and achieve more than what other students can,” added Naseer.
A visually impaired student Rafiya, 18, said the school has become her window to the world.
“It showed me paths I did not know existed and gave me the courage to walk them. I may be blind, but my life here has been filled with colour, purpose, and possibility,” she said.
Being a private and unaided institution, the Blind School's operations are sustained entirely through charitable contributions as it is not receiving any support from the government.
At present, around 70 specially-abled children are enrolled in the school, which offers education up to the eighth standard.
The institution serves students from various districts across Kashmir, including Anantnag, Kupwara, Uri, and Srinagar, highlighting its wide-reaching impact.
The dedication of the staff is remarkable as many of them are working as volunteers or for minimal salaries. Despite limited resources, their unwavering commitment ensures that every student receives the care, attention, and education they deserve.
For countless families, the Blind School in Baramulla is more than a place of learning—it is a beacon of hope in an otherwise limited landscape.
In its modest classrooms, hands learn to read, gestures become language, and children learn to trust themselves. The school quietly proves that with compassion, commitment, and community support, even the most overlooked lives can rise, dream, and shine.