Braille Challenge

About the Braille Challenge

The BRAILLE CHALLENGE is a national program of the Braille Institute® hosted by regional schools and agencies that serve blind and visually impaired children. It is the only national braille literacy competition of its kind in the country, and is specifically designed to challenge and reward blind students for their study of braille, which is essential to their future academic and employment success. Regional students who score among the top 50 nationally are invited to Braille Institute in Los Angeles for a final competition!

The FSDB Regional Braille Challenge will take place on Thursday, February 27, 2025, on the FSDB Campus.

Watch the video below to learn more about the FSDB Braille Challenge from 2023!

Registration

Student Registration

Please pay attention to the registration deadline so we can order contests, student t-shirts, goody bags, materials, and plan for food and refreshments. Student Registration Deadline February 13, 2025. Click the button below to download the registration packet. Please fill out and return to April Wallace.

Student Registration Information (English)

Student Registration Information (Español)

Parent/Guest Registration

A student permission form only registers the student. It does NOT mean that parents or any other guests are registered. Family members, teachers, volunteers, administrators, vendors, etc. must register online to confirm attendance. Click the link below to register.

Parent/Guest Registration Sign Up

For questions or more information, please contact April Wallace, FSDB Regional Braille Coordinator.

April Wallace

PH: 904-827-2355

wallacea@fsdbk12.org

Competitive Contest Categories

Apprentice Grades 1-2 Uncontracted

This is for students reading braille at a first or second grade reading level. Students who take the Contracted Apprentice contest are eligible for the Finals if they place in the top 10 of all Apprentice contestants in the United States and Canada.

If your student needs Apprentice/Contracted, and is in first or second grade, select the circles for "App", and "At Grade Level".
If your student needs Apprentice/Contracted and is in third grade or higher, select the circles for “App” and “Below Grade Level” and either “Contracted” or “Uncontracted”.
Apprentice Contest tests Spelling, Reading Comprehension & Proofreading

Apprentice Grades 1-2 Contracted

This is for students reading braille at a third or fourth grade reading level. It is ONLY available in contracted braille. Students in grades three or four are eligible for the Finals. Student in higher grades can take the Freshman contest but will not be eligible for the National Braille Challenge Finals.

If your student needs the Freshman contest, and is in third or fourth grade, select the circles for "Fresh", and "At Grade Level". Do not select any other circles.
If your student needs the Freshman level contest and is in fifth grade or higher, select the circles for “Fresh” and “Below Grade Level”. Do not select any other circles.
Freshman Contest tests Spelling, Reading Comprehension & Proofreading
Freshman

This is for students reading braille at a fifth or sixth grade reading level. It is ONLY available in contracted braille. Students in grades five or six are eligible for the Finals. Student in higher grades can take the Sophomore contest but will not be eligible for the National Braille Challenge Finals.

If your student needs the Sophomore contest and is in fifth or sixth grade, select the circles for “Soph” and “At Grade Level”. Do not select any other circles.
If your student needs the Sophomore level contest and is in seventh grade or higher, select the circles for “Soph” and “Below Grade Level”. Do not select any other circles.
Sophomore Contest tests Reading Comprehension, Proofreading, Tactile Charts and Graphs, & Speed and Accuracy*.

Sophomore

This is for students reading braille at a seventh, eighth or ninth grade reading level. It is ONLY available in contracted braille. Students in grades seven, eight and nine are eligible for the Finals. Student in higher grades can take the Junior Varsity contest but will not be eligible for the National Braille Challenge Finals.

If your student needs the Junior Varsity contest and is in seventh, eighth, or ninth grade, select the circles for “JV” and “At Grade Level”. Do not select any other circles.
If your student needs the Junior Varsity level contest and is in tenth grade or higher, select the circles for “JV” and “Below Grade Level”. Do not select any other circles.
Junior Varsity Contest tests Reading Comprehension, Proofreading, Tactile Charts and Graphs, & Speed and Accuracy*.

Junior Varsity

This is for students reading braille at a tenth, eleventh, twelfth grade reading level. It is ONLY available in contracted braille. Students in grades ten, eleven and twelve are eligible for the Finals. Student in higher grades (continuing education, transition, etc.) can take the Varsity contest but will not be eligible for the National Braille Challenge Finals.

If your student needs the Varsity contest and is in tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade, select the circles for “Varsity” and “At Grade Level”. Do not select any other circles.
If your student needs the Varsity level contest and has graduated and returned for continuing education, select the circles for “Varsity” and “Below Grade Level”. Do not select any other circles.
Varsity Contest tests Reading Comprehension, Proofreading, Tactile Charts and Graphs, & Speed and Accuracy*.

Varsity

If your student needs the Varsity contest and is in tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade, select the circles for “Varsity” and “At Grade Level”. Do not select any other circles.
If your student needs the Varsity level contest and has graduated and returned for continuing education, select the circles for “Varsity” and “Below Grade Level”. Do not select any other circles.
Varsity Contest tests Reading Comprehension, Proofreading, Tactile Charts and Graphs, & Speed and Accuracy*.

*Contestants taking the Speed and Accuracy test must use a Book Port Plus or VictorReader Stream. Students should practice with one of these devices well before the contest or they will experience frustration on testing day!

Non-Competitive Categories

Rookie

The Rookie group is a non-competitive category. It is intended for students (1st – 12th grade) beginning to learn braille and/or braille is not their primary reading medium. Activities and specialized materials will be created by the FSDB Braille and Literacy Specialists and are geared toward developing and celebrating foundational braille skills. The Rookie group will have “contests” incorporating spelling, reading comprehension, grammar, and tactile pictures.

Pre-Braille

Pre-Braille is a non-competitive category. Students do not compete for first, second, or third-place prizes. It is intended for young children (toddler, Pre-K, and Kindergarten) working on braille readiness skills. Activities and specialized materials will be created by the FSDB Parent Infant Program and are geared toward children and their parents. The Pre-Braille group will focus on early literacy skills for Pre-Braille students and consist of hands-on learning, tactile perception, reading, and writing activities. A parent, guardian, or school adult must attend the group with the child.

Helping Prepare My Student

Braille Institute can help! They have several years of past contests available to download for students to practice. Braille and print files are included so you don’t have to transcribe anything. You will need an embosser. TVIs can browse the old contests to help decide which grade level is most appropriate for your student. Go to the Braille Challenge Archive to view and download practice contests.
For students taking the Sophomore, Junior Varsity, or Varsity contest, make sure they know how to use a digital player (VictorReader Stream) and practice, practice, practice! They should be able to start/stop, rewind/fast forward, adjust volume, adjust speed, plug into a power source, charge device to full power for testing day.

Agenda

8:30 a.m. – Arrival, Check-in with Police, Park at Kramer Hall and Wilson Music Building

9:15 a.m. – Opening Ceremony in Wilson Music Building

9:45 a.m. – Parade to Cary White Building competition rooms

10:00 a.m. – Test Session 1

10:45 a.m. – Test Session 2

11:30 a.m. – Test Session 3

12:15 p.m. – Test Session 4: Sophomore, Junior Varsity, Varsity

Lunch in Copeland Gym Lobby (times may differ due to the number of participants)

12:15 p.m. – Apprentice and Freshman (lunch and recess)

1:00 p.m. – Sophomore, Junior Varsity, Varsity

1:45 p.m. – Parade to Music Building

2:00 p.m. – Drum Circle

2:45 p.m. – Closing Ceremony with Awards

3:30 p.m. – Dismissal

Contact