Braille Challenge

What is the braille challenge?

The Braille Challenge is an international competition for students in 1st-12th grade who are blind or visually impaired. The competition assesses competitors' abilities in different areas and helps students improve their braille skills. There are 5 different age groups, and some age groups take different tests than others. The age groups and the tests they take are:

• Apprentice: Grades 1 and 2

  • Spelling

  • Reading Comprehension

  • Proofreading

• Freshman: Grades 3 and 4

  • Spelling

  • Reading Comprehension

  • Proofreading

• Sophomore: Grades 5 and 6

  • Charts and Graphs

  • Speed and Accuracy

  • Reading Comprehension

  • Proofreading

• Junior Varsity: Grades 7, 8, and 9

  • Charts and Graphs

  • Speed and Accuracy

  • Reading Comprehension

  • Proofreading

• Varsity: Grades 10, 11, and 12

  • Charts and Graphs

  • Speed and Accuracy

  • Reading Comprehension

  • Proofreading

Any student in 1st-12th grade who can read braille can participate in the regional competition. After the regional competitions that take place in many countries around the world, the scores are all combined and the top 10 students from each age group advance to the national competition.

To learn more about the Braille Challenge, click here.

Me and the Braille Challenge

I have competed in the Braille Challenge for six years: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. I advanced to finals three times, in 2018, 2020, and 2021. I have placed in the finals once, in 2021, placing first in the Sophomore age group. It was an experience I will never forget. I plan to do the Braille Challenge as many years as I can.