Vision Forward to host Braille Challenge
Media Advisory
14 Students Who Are Legally Blind Take Part In Vision Forward Regional Braille Challenge to Showcase Reading/ Writing Skills & Highlight Importance of Braille Literacy
Nationally, Program Includes 1,100 Students from 51 Locations to Uncover North America’s Top Braille Readers/Writers
What: The Vision Forward 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, 14 students will be participating in the Challenge and the Challenge will be proctored by the Teachers of the Visually Impaired from surrounding school districts. Other volunteers include Vision Forward staff, parents, vision affiliates, and Orientation & Mobility staff from surrounding area school districts.
Now in its 17th 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 range in grades 1st -12th and are from Milwaukee Public Schools and other surrounding area school districts.
When: January 20th, 2017
Best time for Media interviews 10:45 am – 2:00 pm. Call us to schedule a time that fits you:
Dena Fellows can be reached at 414-615-0134
First Braille testing session begins at 10:30 am
Visuals: Grade school braille readers as they participate in competition, parents & teachers
Where: Vision Forward Association, 912 N. Hawley Rd Milwaukee WI 53213
On-Site Contact: Dena Fellows can be reached at 414-615-0134
National Contacts: John Tellem, john@tellemgrodypr.com, 310.313.3444 x 2, c: 310-210-8779