2021 UPDATE
#PABrailleChallenge2021 UPDATE!!
Hey everyone, hope you’re doing well and staying safe. We have make the difficult decision to not host a regional this year. Instead, TVIs are encouraged to register their students through the braille institute and proctor the test with them. Registration is open until March 1, 2021. https://brailleinstitute.org/braille-challenge/for-teachers
Since we aren’t having a regional we want to still stay connected and keep brailling! We are starting our own virtual, braille alphabet challenge!
We have two categories of entry, the first is for STUDENTS K-12 ONLY that is speed and accuracy! Whoever can braille the alphabet the fastest on a PERKINS brailler ONLY. The winner will win a $50 VISA Gift Card!
The second category is participation only! We want to see everyone in PA who can braille the alphabet! Open to students, families, TVIs, paras.... anyone in PA who can send us a video of them brailling the alphabet! One lucky name will be drawn to win a $25 VISA Gift Card!
CHALLENGE DETAILS:
SPEED
1. You MUST live in Pennsylvania and be a student in grades K-12
2. You do not need spaces, capitals or letter indicators
3. You can ONLY use a Perkins Brailler, no note-takers, or electric braillers
4. You MUST send in a picture of your completed alphabet along with your video so it can be checked for accuracy
5. You can get someone else to record you, you don’t need to record yourself.
6. Email your video to Anna Ackley at annaackley29@gmail.com with the student’s name, grade, city, and time.
7. Post on social media and tag Pennsylvania Regional Braille Challenge
Participation
1. Open to ANYONE living in PA who has access to a brailler, note-taker, Duxbury, Perky Duck, or electric brailler.
2. Record and send a video of yourself brailling the alphabet (accuracy will not be checked)
3. Email your video to Anna Ackley at annaackley29@gmail.com with your name, grade or position, and the city you are from!
4. Post on social media and tag Pennsylvania Regional Braille Challenge
We can't wait to see you braille!! Please stay healthy and keep calm and braille on!!
#BrailleChallenge2021 #BrailleChallenge
What is the Braille Challenge?
The Braille Challenge is a national program of the Braille Institute®. It’s a full day of fun, interactive braille challenges where students compete and win prizes according to their grade level.
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.
Of all the students competing around the US and Canada, the top 10 scorers from each level advance to the Finals in Los Angeles, for a total of 50 contestants. The 2020 Braille Challenge National Finals will happen on June 26 and 27 at the University of Southern California.
Who can participate?
Any blind or visually impaired student in grades 1 – 12 who can read and write braille is eligible to participate in the Braille Challenge. Students are divided into 5 grade level 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
What if my child is not on grade level? Can they still participate?
Yes! We encourage ALL students who are reading or being exposed to braille to participate in our event!
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.
All students at all academic levels are welcome to participate in the Preliminary Contest, both individually and at a regional event. Every student who completes a Preliminary Round Contest will be acknowledged with a certificate and a special prize, so everyone is a winner.
Consider our PA Pre-Braille Activity Program if your child/student:
· has only been recently exposed to braille
· is still learning the code
· is only using it as a dual media and is not fully immersed
· is in Kindergarten
For more information about the Braille Challenge, visit the Braille Institute.