Demographics and Prevalence Across the Partner Countries
Demographics and Prevalence
Italy
- 338,000 students with disabilities (4.1% of total students), including youth with visual impairments.
- Severe visual limitations affect around 2% of people aged 15+, rising with age.
- Women show a slightly higher prevalence than men.
- Urban areas have more accessible services than rural areas, which face geographic and income-related inequalities.
Poland
- Around 4 million people with certified disabilities; about 1.75 million have visual impairments.
- 221,600 students with special educational needs in 2022/2023 (4.3% of total students).
- Services and support vary: urban areas provide better access, while rural areas face limited educational and rehabilitation services.
Czech Republic
- Estimates suggest 23,000–60,000 visually impaired people.
- About 300 new cases of blindness occur yearly due to congenital or acquired causes.
- Urban areas provide better access to education and healthcare; rural areas have fewer opportunities.
Cyprus
- Around 1.5%–2% of the population has some form of visual impairment.
- Youth often rely on the School for the Blind in Nicosia, with a shuttle system for rural students.
- Access to rehabilitation and cultural activities is easier for urban youth than for those in rural areas.
Sweden
- Around 100,000 people require vision rehabilitation services.
- Historically, about 2,000 children were registered, but data collection is incomplete.
- Causes include cerebral visual impairment (CVI), retinal degenerations, optic nerve issues and more.