Five Birmingham youngsters are set to become the stars of a new DVD designed to show teachers across the UK how visually impaired pupils can be successfully included in mainstream schools.

The film is a joint initiative by Birmingham City Council's Action for Inclusion team, who are providing funding for the project, and the Team for Children with Visual Impairment, part of Birmingham City Council's Specialist Support Service.
Five pupils are taking part including seven-year-old Lucy Williams from Chilcote Primary School. Other schools being filmed for the project, with children ranging in age from 8 to 17, are Colmers Farm Junior School, Handsworth Grammar School, Hodge Hill Girls School and Plantsbrook School in Sutton Coldfield.
Filming started on October 18 when Midlands based iceni Productions Ltd attended the first of the schools involved.
Cathy Bentley from iceni Productions explained that the film will follow the children throughout their school day and explore steps taken to include them in lessons.
Sue Johnson, Birmingham City Council's co-ordinator of the Team for Children with Visual Impairment, said: "It is vital that schools are kept up to date with help that is available for such pupils.
"Two previous projects which dealt with autism and hearing impairment were extremely successful and, as soon as funding became available, we wanted to build on this promising start by highlighting visual impairment."
Cathy added: "The DVD tackles serious questions about how such youngsters can genuinely mix with children who aren't visually impaired. It is fascinating to see the range of measures undertaken to help make this happen.
"From portable Braille machines, 'tactile' diagrams and sign systems to classroom assistants and a mobility officer helping pupils to increase their independence, there is a strong support network to help them have full inclusion within mainstream school.
"For us this has been a very important piece of work. We are committed to projects that genuinely make a difference so it has been a privilege to be involved.
"We also need to say a big thanks to all the young people involved as they have been complete naturals in front of the camera."
iceni previously worked on a similar project with the Action for Inclusion team on how autistic pupils can get the most out of school. Backed by the National Autistic Society, the DVD is now available through Birmingham City Council to teachers throughout the country.
The new DVD about visual impairment will be available from February next year. Head teachers from across the region will be invited to view a sample of its contents and buy it before it is launched nationally at a conference for visual impairment practitioners being held at Birmingham University later in the month.
For more information, contact Cathy Bentley on 01283 792 990