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Braille Challenge

Get Those Fingers Moving: Northern California Regional Braille Challenge is March 4 at LightHouse
LightHouse News

Get Those Fingers Moving: Northern California Regional Braille Challenge is March 4 at LightHouse

Each year, blind and low vision students, families, teachers, and community members from all over northern California gather for a day dedicated to braille literacy through the Northern California Regional Braille Challenge. At this gathering, blind and low vision youth demonstrate their braille skills in a series of contests ranging from reading and comprehension, speed and accuracy, spelling, proofreading, and tactile graphics. We’re pleased to announce that this year’s Northern California Regional Braille Challenge will be held in person at our LightHouse San Francisco headquarters.  
 
In addition to students showing their braille brilliance and competing with their peers, students will get the chance to learn from and meet blind and low vision mentors and role models such as our keynote speaker, Rachel Grider, a past Regional Braille Challenge winner who now teaches music to blind and low vision students.

While students take part in this year’s challenge, parents will get the chance to learn about many different resources that can help their child along the path of independence, from experienced educators and blind and low vision mentors. Topics for parent workshops will include living skills, tech demonstrations, and a workshop hosted by staff and students dedicated to sharing information and addressing parents’ concerns about overnight and summer camp programs for blind and low vision youth. In addition to all the lessons and connections that will take place, the brand-new Bop It Button will be making an appearance and there will be a bop-off for students with prizes.
 
Learn more about the Braille Challenge from the Braille Institute website.
 
Who: Blind and low vision youth from Northern California in grades K-12, as well as their family and educators
What: The 2023 Northern California Regional Braille Challenge
When: Saturday, March 4, from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm
Where: LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired at 1155 Market St., San Francisco – directions to LightHouse San Francisco headquarters

Register a student for the 2023 Northern California Regional Braille Challenge by March 1.

For general information about the event, or to get involved, please contact Jamey Gump, Youth Services Coordinator, at JGump@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7372. 
 
This year’s 2023 Northern California Braille Challenge will be hosted by the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, in collaboration with Vista Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired, California School for the Blind and Braille Institute of America.

Let Your Fingers do the Reading: Get Ready for the 2022 Braille Challenge
LightHouse News

Let Your Fingers do the Reading: Get Ready for the 2022 Braille Challenge

LightHouse is thrilled to announce the upcoming 2022 Northern California Braille Challenge! We have had the privilege of hosting the event at our headquarters in San Francisco in previous years, most recently in February of 2020. For many years LightHouse, the California School for the Blind, and the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired have participated in this annual event that honors Braille literacy in a fun and friendly competition for blind and low vision students across the San Francisco Bay Area and other regions of northern California.

This year the Braille Challenge will be hosted by our friends at the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired on Saturday March 5 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Vista Center, located at 101 N. Bascom Ave in San Jose, California.

We invite all blind and low vision students in grades1 through 12 who are knowledgeable of or in the process of learning Braille to join us in this fun academic contest that will put your Braille literacy to the test! Show off your Braille reading and writing capabilities as your fingers glide across the embossed pages and dance atop the buttons of a Perkins Brailler! This is the only academic Braille contest of its kind, so don’t miss out!

You can register for the 2022 Braille Challenge here, registration deadline is Monday, February 7, 2022. For more information about the event, please visit the Vista Center website. If you have any additional questions, please contact ajine@vistacenter.org.

We can’t wait to see all this year’s blind and low vision scholars showcase their Braille knowledge! Good luck to all participants, and we’ll see you on March 5!

Photos from a Day of Braille Literacy: 2017 Northern California Regional Braille Challenge
LightHouse News

Photos from a Day of Braille Literacy: 2017 Northern California Regional Braille Challenge

Gallery

On February 25, we welcomed 22 students and their families to the 2017 Northern California Regional Braille Challenge at the LightHouse headquarters. It was a lively day packed with speeches by keynote speakers, testing for students, parent workshops, games and a final award ceremony (complete with a surprise musical performance by a group of contestants).

Hosted in collaboration with Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, California School for the Blind and Braille Institute of America, the Regional Braille Challenge is the first leg of a two-part contest for K-12 youth who read braille. It is designed to encourage and reward students for fine-tuning their braille reading and writing skills.

Any parent or student on Saturday would tell you that Braille Challenge is an unparalleled platform for promoting braille literacy and bringing braille readers of all ages into one space — whether as contestants or judges. It’s also a chance for kids to connect with their blind friends, chuckle about inside jokes, and for parents to learn more about having a child with vision loss and how best to support them (hint from one of our college panelists: “Don’t shelter them!”)

Braille Challenge is not about winning (though we don’t mind a little friendly competition) but we’d like to recognize the students who placed!

Here are the winners of each level of competition. Once all of the Braille Challenge regionals are complete the Braille Institute will invite the top 10% of all of the students that competed in all of the various regionals to the national Braille Challenge later this year.

2017 Northern California Regional Braille Challenge Winners

Apprentice 1. Miles Lima 2. Darren Ou 3. Mikey Diaz

Freshman – 1. Teresa Liu 2. Logon Maschke 3. Melina Mendoza

Sophomore – 1. Luke Pilar 2. Rasheed Ali 3. Alejandro Cervantes

Junior Varsity – 1. Ethan Fung 2. Kaitlyn Austin 3. Rocco Romeo

Varsity – 1. Alexia Arriola

Find a selection of photos from the day-long event below!

 

Four children stand in line before the 2017 Northern California Regional Braille Challenge opening procession.
Four children stand in line before the 2017 Northern California Regional Braille Challenge opening procession.
The young competitors wait in line before the festivities start.
The young competitors wait in line before the festivities start.
A closeup of a student's festive and sparkly red high-tops, with canes visible in the background.
A closeup of a student’s festive and sparkly red high-tops, with canes visible in the background.
Braille Challenge competitors Avery and Darren sit in the front row listening to opening remarks.
Braille Challenge competitors Avery and Darren sit in the front row listening to opening remarks.
Braille challenge competitors Darren and Mikey sit together before the competition begins.
Braille challenge competitors Darren and Mikey sit together before the competition begins.
A shot of the audience shows the kids laughing and one competitor playfully covering her face.
A shot of the audience shows the kids laughing and one competitor playfully covering her face.
Competitor Kaitlyn Austin holds her little sister's hand and leads her to her seat in the LightHouse multipurpose rooms.
Competitor Kaitlyn holds her little sister’s hand and leads her to her seat in the LightHouse multipurpose rooms.
Competitors Rasheed and Teresa sit listening to the day's opening remarks.
Competitors Rasheed and Teresa sit listening to the day’s opening remarks.
Senior Director of Programs Scott Blanks claps as competitor Nikki enters the main events room (smiling, as usual).
Senior Director of Programs Scott Blanks claps as competitor Nikki enters the main events room (smiling, as usual).
92-year-old Cathy Skivers gives her opening remarks about the importance of braille literacy.
92-year-old Cathy Skivers gives her opening remarks about the importance of braille literacy.
Competitor Miles gets some last minute moral support from his mom before heading into the testing rooms.
Competitor Miles gets some last minute moral support from his mom before heading into the testing rooms.
A close-up of Cathy Skivers' braille notes perched in her lap.
A close-up of Cathy Skivers’ braille notes perched in her lap.
Youth services coordinator Jamey Gump stands in the LightHouse pre-function area speaking to a parent.
Youth services coordinator Jamey Gump stands in the LightHouse pre-function area speaking to a parent.
The apprentice sit in front of their braillers in the 11th Floor Kitchen getting ready for testing to start.
The apprentice sit in front of their braillers in the 11th Floor Kitchen getting ready for testing to start.
The Freshman competitors and their proctors sit at a table together in the LightHouse fitness studio.
The Freshman competitors and their proctors sit at a table together in the LightHouse fitness studio.
College-age students Sergio Lopez-Hernandez, Julie J Bird, Nasir Iqbal and Iman Award offer advice to parents during a panel at Braille Challenge. The main takeaway? "Don't shelter your kids."
College-age students Sergio Lopez-Hernandez, Julie J Bird, Nasir Iqbal and Iman Award offer advice to parents during a panel at Braille Challenge. The main takeaway? “Don’t shelter your kids.”
Competitor Rasheed sits typing at his brailler with headphones in. He is silhouetted against large windows that show the buildings of San Francisco in the background.
Competitor Rasheed sits typing at his brailler with headphones in. He is silhouetted against large windows that show the buildings of San Francisco in the background.
Sophomore competitor Luke wears headphones while completing the speed and accuracy portion of the Braille Challenge.
Sophomore competitor Luke wears headphones while completing the speed and accuracy portion of the Braille Challenge.
IMG_5320
A pink-cheeked Teresa Liu types away at her Perkins Brailler during the spelling portion of the 2017 Braille Challenge. She competed at the Freshman level.
A closeup of the brailled Braille Challenge medals.
A closeup of the brailled Braille Challenge medals.
LightHouse employee BJ Epstein helps check the kids' tests behind the scenes.
LightHouse employee BJ Epstein helps check the kids’ tests behind the scenes.
A stack of freshly brailled tests.
A stack of freshly brailled tests.
Apprentice competitor Avery leans closer to her brailler and furrows her brow intently.
Apprentice competitor Avery leans closer to her brailler and furrows her brow intently.
Junior Varsity competitor Ethan works on the graphs and charts portion of the test.
Junior Varsity competitor Ethan works on the graphs and charts portion of the test.
Junior Varsity competitor Kaitlyn reads a braille chart. She is wearing a royal blue tracksuit that nicely matches her royal blue brailler.
Junior Varsity competitor Kaitlyn reads a braille chart. She is wearing a royal blue tracksuit that nicely matches her royal blue brailler.
Another Junior Varsity tester is deep in concentration during the test.
Another Junior Varsity tester is deep in concentration during the test.
Sophomore competitors in the 11th floor conference room at the LightHouse. Natural light streams onto them through the large window.
Sophomore competitors in the 11th floor conference room at the LightHouse. Natural light streams onto them through the large window.
Friends and family wait on the 11th floor couches for testers to finish up.
Friends and family wait on the 11th floor couches for testers to finish up.
Sophomore competitors are hard at work in the 11th Floor Craft Room.
Sophomore competitors are hard at work in the 11th Floor Craft Room.
Competitor Avery poses with her smiling family, who made shirts that say "Team Avery Bravery" in braille on the front and in text on the back.
Competitor Avery poses with her smiling family, who made shirts that say “Team Avery Bravery” in braille on the front and in text on the back.
Youth Services Coordinator Richie Flores and guest speaker Caitlin Hernandez works with Sophomore competitor Alejandro in the craft room before testing.
Youth Services Coordinator Richie Flores and guest speaker Caitlin Hernandez works with Sophomore competitor Alejandro in the craft room before testing.
Apprentice competitor Miles feels proctor Donna's braille embossed bracelet.
Apprentice competitor Miles feels proctor Donna’s braille embossed bracelet.
Competitor Rasheed sits next to his dad, who rests a loving hand on his head while speaking to him.
Competitor Rasheed sits next to his dad, who rests a loving hand on his head while speaking to him.
IMG_5529
A crowd of students, parents and community members play a game after the testing is over.
Junior Varsity Competitor Monse smiles while holding her cane and a braille notetaker.
Junior Varsity Competitor Monse smiles while holding her cane and a braille notetaker.
A shot of the crowd in their seats — with two students chatting up front.
A shot of the crowd in their seats — with two students chatting up front.
Stuart (formerly of California School for the Blind) and proctor Donna sit close while listening to closing remarks.
Stuart (formerly of California School for the Blind) and proctor Donna sit close while listening to closing remarks.
Sisters Maryam and Mariyah giggle while playing a game after the competition is over.
Sisters Maryam and Mariyah giggle while playing a game after the competition is over.
A competitor's little sister walks holding her dad's hand.
A competitor’s little sister walks holding her dad’s hand.
Sophomore competitor Alejandro sits next to his little sister in the multipurpose rooms.
Sophomore competitor Alejandro sits next to his little sister in the multipurpose rooms.
IMG_5649A yellow lab on duty lays on the floor and turns its head to look directly into the camera.
A yellow lab on duty lays on the floor and turns its head to look directly into the camera.
Varsity competitor Alexia sits up front in the LightHouse multipurpose rooms, holding her braille notetaker
Varsity competitor Alexia sits up front in the LightHouse multipurpose rooms, holding her braille notetaker
College-age panelist Nasir grabs a handful of braille fortune cookies.
College-age panelist Nasir grabs a handful of braille fortune cookies.
Competitor Darren sits on a piano bench with his dad and little sister reading his braille fortune from a fortune cookie. The message? "Never give up."
Competitor Darren sits on a piano bench with his dad and little sister reading his braille fortune from a fortune cookie. The message? “Never give up.”
LightHouse Will Host the 2017 Braille Challenge for Northern California
LightHouse News

LightHouse Will Host the 2017 Braille Challenge for Northern California

Photo: A smiling young girl wearing a purple braille challenge t-shirt types away at her brailler.

The Braille Challenge is an international competition in which braille readers compete to be the Olympians of blind literacy. Starting this month, blind and low vision students across the United States and Canada will begin clattering away on braillers and slates as they compete in a series of contests demonstrating braille reading and comprehension, speed and accuracy, spelling, proofreading, and tactile graphics, as they compete for thousands of dollars in prizes.

As part of the 2017 Braille Challenge, the LightHouse in San Francisco is proud to announce that our new headquarters will host the regional Challenge for Northern California. This preliminary round is open to students grades K through 12 of all skills levels, and the top-scoring 50 contestants nationally will be invited to Los Angeles in June for a two-day Final Round.

On February 25, students and their parents are invited to join us for a full day of braille events. The day will kick off with a guest speaker who will get the participants pumped up about braille and discuss the benefits of learning and practicing braille for future academic and employment success. Then the students will be let loose to compete. While students are showing off their braille-reading chops, parents and family members will have the chance to attend a series of workshops with presenters who will provide resources and information about further opportunities to encourage literacy, independence and self-confidence.

They will also have a chance to see the dozens of braille-related tools and devices carried by the LightHouse Adaptations store, many available nowhere else in the region.

This year, The Braille Challenge will be held at 46 different sites and proctored by up to 80 individual teachers of visually impaired students from across the US and Canada. Any visually impaired student who reads braille is eligible to participate in the preliminary Challenge contest events. Each contestant receives a brailled certificate of appreciation and general feedback on their performance, which will be sent to families and educators in May.

A big thank you to Junior Blind of Northern California and the Vista Center for co-presenting this event with us.

The Northern California Braille Challenge
Who: Blind and low vision braille readers, grades K-12
When: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., February 25, 2016
Where: LightHouse Headquarters
1155 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94103

Registration Deadline: Friday, January 27, 2016

Registration is now open: 2017 Braille Challenge

Download the Northern California
Braille Challenge Registration Form.

The deadline to register for the Challenge is January 27, 2017. To register for the event please fill out and return the 2017 Permission Form. This form can be filled out digitally and sent via email to jgump@lighthouse-sf.org or mailed by post to LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Attn: James Gump, 1155 Market St., 10th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103.

For questions or to register for the event contact Jamey Gump, LightHouse Youth Services Coordinator, at jgump@lighthouse-sf.org or call 415-694-7372.

Download and Print the Braille Challenge Save-the-Date.

LightHouse News

Feb 18 Registration Deadline Looms for Braille Challenge

1 Commenton Feb 18 Registration Deadline Looms for Braille Challenge

When: February 27, 2016
Where: The California School for the Blind
Deadline to register is February 18, 2016

Registration is well under way for the Northern California Braille Challenge which will be held and hosted by the California School for the Blind, in collaboration of LightHouse for the Blind, Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Junior Blind-Northern California and Lions Center for the Blind.

The day will include speakers who are past Braille Challenge national winners, workshops for parents and teachers and a wonderful day of braille focused events.

Parents and teachers need to complete the 2016 Permission form and return it by February 18, 2016 to CSB, Attn: Sharon Sacks, 500 Walnut Ave., Fremont, CA 94536.

If you have questions feel free to contact Alice McGrath, Community Relations Manager at amcgrath@vistacenter.org or call 650 858-0202, ext. 130.