The Braille Challenge® Reading, Writing & Spelling Contest

Registration Now Closed to Take The Challenge Individually. Check the Regional Preliminary Events' Listing to Find a Site Near You.

And Be Sure to Send in Your Entry for Our First-Ever Film Festival for VI Students—Cinema Without Sight.

Registration for students taking the contest individually closed December 18, 2009. Teachers—your student may still participate, please check our Regional Preliminary Event page to find an agency or school hosting a regional contest in your area. There are 32 regional events throughout the U.S. and Canada scheduled for 2010. These group events brings kids, families and professionals together as a fun way to celebrate braille literacy. Regional contests are held up until the second week in March, 2010. Students must register directly with the host agency, please contact them for details.

Looking for practice materials to get started right away? Here is a menu of sample contests available for download.

The Braille Challenge, Braille Institute's national reading and writing contest in braille, is a great way to motivate blind and visually impaired students to practice their literacy skills. Students test their skills in reading comprehension, braille speed and accuracy, proofreading, spelling and reading tactile charts and graphs. More than 500 students from first through twelfth grades participated in the Preliminary Round last year. The top-scoring 65 came to Los Angeles in June for the Final Round—two days of competition, camaraderie and fun!

New for 2010: Film Festival for VI Students—Cinema Without Sight

In celebration of The Braille Challenge’s 10th Anniversary, we are hosting Braille Institute’s own film festival celebrating the abilities of young people who are blind or visually impaired. It's called Cinema Without Sight. Yes, it’s our very own Sundance, with our very own theme: I Am More Than What I See.

The top three submissions will be premiered at the June Braille Challenge Finals, with a top prize of a $1,000 cash award. Download the application here. The deadline is April 1, 2010.

For more information about The Braille Challenge, please call Christine Pak toll-free at 1-800-BRAILLE (272-4553), Ext. 1321, or send an e-mail to cgpak@brailleinstitute.org.