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 exclusively into the mainstream educational system.

An open day for 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."

Francesca, who was born blind, is currently doing well at Vision Australia's Burwood Education Centre, which will close late next month.

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 deteriorated when she was enrolled in a mainstream school in 2007 after arriving from Italy.

"Why pretend they are the same? These kids have different needs,'' Mr Lachman said. "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.

"If you're housed in a school room with 25 other kids, lots of noise and a teacher's aide who is not properly trained, how do you progress?"

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

"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.

"These are easily achievable, but only on a whole-of-school basis for many people who lack confidence or societal connections."

Mr Lachman stressed he was not against mainstream schools for the visually impaired.