Braille Challenge
I have been chosen as one of the 50 Braille Challenge Finalists for 2021! See below for more info about the contest!
What Is the Braille Challenge?
The Braille Challenge is an annual contest for 1st-12th grade braille readers across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom (added this year). The Braille Challenge is first held as a regional contest. After the regionals, the scores from all of the regions are combined, and the top 50 (10 from each of 5 age groups) continue to nationals. The competition was first held in 2000, and has been growing ever since.
What the Braille Challenge Is Like Normally and this Year
Normally, for the Regional Braille Challenge, braille readers in 1st-12th grade compete against others in their state or region. Each region/state has a set location at which the contest is held.
Normally, for the National Braille Challenge, students who are selected as Braille Challenge Finalists travel to California for the contest and lots of other events for braille readers and their families.
This year, the contests are being held virtually, with a proctor coming to the student's home or using a video conferencing tool, like Zoom or Microsoft Teams, to proctor the test to the student. The contest will then be scored before the award ceremony. There is an award ceremony for the Regional Braille Challenge, which is only throughout the region or state, and the National Braille Challenge, which is across the entire United States, Canada, and United Kingdom.
The Braille Challenge Tests
The Braille Challenge tests students on different braille skills. Different age groups have slightly different tests. Here is the exact list of the tests for each age group:
Apprentice
Spelling
Reading Comprehension
Proof Reading
Freshman
Spelling
Reading Comprehension
Proof Reading
Sophomore
Charts and Graphs
Reading Comprehension
Proof Reading
Speed and Accuracy
Junior Varsity
Charts and Graphs
Reading Comprehension
Proof Reading
Speed and Accuracy
Varsity
Charts and Graphs
Reading Comprehension
Proof Reading
Speed and Accuracy
Where to Find the List of All Braille Challenge Finalists
The list of all Braille Challenge Finalists can be found here!
KVUE Interview
KVUE interviewed me about the Braille Challenge and they did a great job! Here is the video that they put together. If you'd like to read the article, click here!
The Award Ceremony
The Braille Challenge Award Ceremony was streamed live on YouTube on Fri, Jul 30, 2021 at 2:00 PM Pacific Time. If you missed the ceremony or just want to watch it again, the video is below.
First Place Award
I won first place for the Sophomore age group. This is an incredible achievement for me, because I have never before won anything at the Braille Challenge Finals. It is also harder to win an award and become a finalist the first year of an age group.
The first place award this year includes a Braille Challenge Trophy (pictures coming soon) and a Braille Display. I have not recieved these items yet, but can't wait to check them out!