We’re excited you’re here as it means you also have passion for braille literacy and the doors it opens! Below you will find quick links to all the information you will need to get started participating in Braille Challenge.
Braille Challenge
The Braille Challenge season takes place in two stages each year.
- Stage 1 – Braille Challenge Preliminaries where all students who read braille can participate in regional events from January through mid-March.
- Stage 2 – Braille Challenge Finals where the top 50 regional participants in the United States and Canada compete in the final rounds in June.
Contest Age Groups
- Apprentice: 1-2 Grades
- Freshman: 3-4 Grades
- Sophomore: 5-6 Grades
- Junior Varsity: 7-9 Grades
- Varsity: 10-12 Grades
Participate in a Regional Braille Challenge
We strongly encourage all students to participate in a Braille Challenge Regional event nearest them to fully enjoy the camaraderie, fun, competition, and celebration of the Braille Challenge. Find a Regional event here.
Teacher Proctored Contests
If you are unable to attend a regional event for any reason, you can still participate and be considered for Finals by having a Teacher Proctored Contest. Talk to your teacher and learn more here.
Practice Contests
The Braille Challenge is designed to encourage students to practice their braille literacy skills. To hone your skills and prepare for the contest, see sample contests here.
Teacher of the Year
Do you have an amazing teacher? You can recognize your teacher by nominating them for the Teacher of the Year Award! For more information and to nominate your teacher, learn more here.
Braille Challenge is the only academic competition of its kind in North America for students who are blind or visually impaired. Braille Institute launched Braille Challenge in 2000 to motivate students to practice and hone their braille literacy skills, which are essential to academic and employment success.
Any blind or visually impaired student in first through twelfth grades who can read and write braille is eligible to participate in the preliminary Braille Challenge regional events. Regional events are held from January through mid-March throughout the United States and Canada. All contestants are tested on fundamental braille skills such as:
- Reading Comprehension
- Spelling
- Speed and Accuracy
- Proofreading
- Charts and Graphs
Regional contests are proctored by volunteer Teachers of the Visually Impaired and scored locally by volunteer transcribers based on national guidelines.
For Braille Challenge Finals, only the top 50 students (10 in each category) with the highest scores are invited to Los Angeles for the final round – two days of competition, camaraderie and fun!