Blind Asian children in Bradford are learning to read Arabic and Urdu Braille thanks to a blind teacher who travelled here from Pakistan.

Tariq Awan was recruited from Mirpur by the VI (Visually Impaired) Sahara Group, based at Women's Zone in Hubert Street, Bradford.

Former social worker Kalsoom Akhtar, who runs the support group for Asian parents of blind and visually impaired children, has two children, aged 12 and nine, who are both blind. The mum-of-four, of Rooley Lane, said: "The group wanted our children to learn Arabic Braille because none of the mosques cater for our children's special needs. We felt they were missing out on culture, religion, language and the social aspects and integration into their own community and identity."

Mrs Akhtar, 42, found there were no Arabic Braille teachers in the UK and looked overseas, to a school in Mirpur run by the Azad Kashmir Association of the Blind which she helped support and where Arabic and Urdu Braille is taught.

After a trip there with her two blind daughters in 2003, she placed adverts for a suitable teacher for Bradford and secured £10,000 funding from The Local Network Fund and Awards For All.

There was no response, so Mrs Akhtar returned to the school and recruited co-founder Tariq Awan who trains teachers at the school to teach Braille. He is now in Bradford for a year.

"It's going really well," said Mrs Akhtar. "The children are enjoying it and are gaining confidence and learning about their culture. They are also learning to speak in their mother language and can communicate with their elders."

She hopes the scheme will spread, by training volunteers who can continue when Mr Awan leaves. Mr Awan, 36, who was born blind, has a degree in Political Science from Government College in Lahore.

He said: "I am really enjoying Bradford. It's great. The children are perfect because they want to learn and their parents are also interested in the project."

About ten children, aged from five to 15 are using the Braille Club, which meets twice a week.