Maryland Brailler Challenge Event Organizers Host Regional Braille Challenge

From Maryland Braille Challenge: Maryland Braille Challenge event organizers will host a unique regional Braille Challenge competition to increase community awareness about the importance of braille literacy while emphasizing the study of braille and rewarding individual successes among local school age braille readers. This year, the Challenge will be piloting a non-competitive program for Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning. Students will participate with peers and blind adult role models in various fun activities that integrate Braille. This program is limited to 10 elementary students who have just started to learn Braille but aren’t ready to compete in the Braille Challenge, and who are looking for a fun opportunity to practice the Braille skills they have acquired so far.

The Challenge will also include workshops for parents, a braille book exchange, and prizes and Braille medals for all participants. Participants will have an opportunity to see the MSB Bee mascot, make new friends, and have a lot of fun.

Now in its 17 th year nationally, The Braille Challenge® is the only reading and writing contest in braille for school age students who are legally blind. More than 1,100 students participate in the academic competition across North America.

Any grade school student who is blind or visually impaired and reads braille is eligible to participate in this regional/first stage of the contest, giving even emerging braille readers a chance to reach a personal best. The Braille Challenge tests braille skills in five categories: reading comprehension, braille spelling, chart and graph reading, proofreading and braille speed and accuracy. Braille Institute then brings 50 students with the highest scores per age category, from across North America to an annual daylong finals competition in June to test their braille skills alongside the best of the best.

Who: Braille Challenge participants in Pre-K through 12 th grades from Maryland and the surrounding area

When: Saturday, January 28, 2017

Media Interviews: 8:30 am – 4:00 pm (staff coordinators, parents)

Students can only be interviewed during non-testing times (schedule attached)

Braille testing sessions begin at 9:45 am and end at 3:15 pm

Post Test Activities: 2:00 – 3:15 pm

Awards: 3:15 – 4:00 pm (tentative based on test scoring)

Visuals: Grade school braille readers as they participate in competition, teachers, parents, volunteers

Where: Maryland School for the Blind, 3501 Taylor Ave. Baltimore, MD 21236

On-Site

Contact: Jacqueline Otwell, BC Coordinator, 410-444- 5000 x1488(o), 443-889- 3899 (c) Dotty Raynor, MSB Communications Manager 410-319- 5722(o), 443-980- 4978 (c) National

Contacts: John Tellem, john@tellemgrodypr.com, 310.313.3444 x 2, c: 310-210- 8779

Image Via Pixabay