Our Regional Braille Challenge is held the last Saturday in January each year—January 26th for 2019. It will take place at the Iowa Department for the Blind. More information and registration forms will be available soon! Watch our Braille Challenge page and postings on this blog for up-to-date information.
See our Instructional Materials Blog for more information
What Is the Braille Challenge?
The Braille Challenge is the only academic competition of its kind in North America for students who are blind or visually impaired. Braille Institute developed the Braille Challenge to motivate students to practice and hone their braille literacy skills, which are essential to academic and employment success.
Any blind or visually impaired student in grades 1 – 12 who can read and write braille is eligible to participate in the Braille Challenge. All Contestants are divided into five categories and tested on fundamental braille skills such as reading comprehension, spelling, speed and accuracy, proofreading, and charts and graphs. Contests are proctored by volunteer Teachers of the Visually Impaired and scored locally by volunteer transcribers, based on national guidelines.
All students can compete in the preliminary Braille Challenge events, which are held from January through the end of March throughout the United States and Canada, but only the top 50 students (10 in each category) with the highest scores are invited to Los Angeles for the final round – two days of competition, camaraderie and fun!
For more information, please visit https://www.brailleinstitute.org/braille-challenge
Contest Age Groups
- Apprentice—1st and 2nd grades
- Freshman—3rd and 4th grades
- Sophomore—5th and 6th grades
- Junior Varsity—7th, 8th and 9th grades
- Varsity—10th, 11th and 12th grades
Taking A Contest That Is Below A Student’s Grade Level
Only students who take the preliminary contest in contracted braille that corresponds to their age-appropriate academic grade level will be eligible to be invited to the Finals. However, to encourage full inclusion and maximum participation in the preliminary round, a student may take any level of contest. Also, the Apprentice preliminary contest is offered in uncontracted braille and also can be taken by students of any age.
Link for sample tests: https://www.brailleinstitute.org/braille-challenge/sample-contests
iBraille App
The iBraille App is a free app created to bring braille and digital literacy together. Through the app, using an iPad and a refreshable braille display, students can practice and hone their braille literacy skills anywhere, anytime! Visit https://www.brailleinstitute.org/ibraille-challenge-app
Please encourage your students to join in the Braille Challenge on January 26th!!