The Braille Challenge is a two-part contest for school-aged children who read braille. It is designed to encourage and reward students to fine-tune their braille reading skills. It is Braille Institute's belief that the Braille Challenge publicly highlights the importance of braille reading and writing, plus offers the kind of positive motivation that helps teachers and families counteract declining literacy rates.
This program was developed by Braille Institute of America, Inc. in 2000. Based on its appeal and overwhelming success, we decided to extend it across the country to promote braille literacy on a national scale.
A planning handbook is available free of charge to all nonprofit agencies or schools serving blind children that are interested in hosting a regional Challenge of their own. Local winners who meet the criteria will then be eligible to take part in the national invitational in Los Angeles.
The Challenge is a full-day competition, with five 25-minute contests. The day includes a pre-competition pep rally, lunch following the contests and an awards ceremony. It can be customized to include parent workshops, special guests and programs for siblings.
Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind participates in this program. Interested Idaho schools, parents and teachers can contact:
Jan Zollinger
Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind
1450 Main Street
Gooding, Idaho 83330
208-934-4457
