Pearcedale couple Alan Lachman and Maria Galanzi Lachman are opening their own school to ensure their daughter Francesca, 8, and other visually impaired children have a choice and are not forced into the mainstream educational system.

An open day for parents, children and teachers to tour the Insight Education Centre for the Blind and Vision Impaired will be held at the new school's Glen Waverley premises on November 15.

"Francesca is absolutely delighted - she can't wait," Mr Lachman told the Journal last Thursday.

"Kids can be terrible at mainstream primary schools and treat blind children like freaks."

Francesca, who was born blind, is doing well at Vision Australia's Burwood Education Centre, which will shut its doors in late December.

Announcing the closure last year, Vision Australia chief executive Gerard Menses said blind or low-vision students had the "right to be educated within a mainstream education environment supported by specialist services".

But Mr Lachman said Francesca's behaviour and study had deteriorated when they enrolled her in a mainstream school in 2007 after arriving from Italy.

"Why pretend they are the same? These kids have different needs.

"You want your kids to have a full, balanced life and get the best academic and life skills possible, which includes getting invitations from other kids to go out on weekends."

Mr Lachman stressed he was not against mainstream schools for the visually impaired. "It's just a question of merging the two together."

Flinders MP Greg Hunt recently supported the couple's stand in a speech to Parliament.

"A blind student needs a school equipped with Braille books and PCs with adaptive technology, adapted art rooms, PE and music facilities, no physical barriers and an expanded core curriculum," Mr Hunt said.

Mr Lachman said it would take about $1.5 million to modify the private school's premises and buy equipment to be ready to open in February.

The school will start with 25 primary students who can either attend full-time or alternate for a few days a week with a mainstream education.

Curriculum support and a life-management program will also be provided for visiting mainstream secondary school students.

The open day is from 10am-2 pm at 583 Ferntree Gully Road, Glen Waverley.

To donate to the school, call Mr Lachman on 0421 582 462 or visit www.insightvision.com.au