St. Louis Regional Braille Challenge
The 2025 St. Louis Regional Braille Challenge (STLRBC) is now OPEN for registration!
This is an in-person event. Join us for friendly competition, camaraderie, braille, and fun!
Where: Missouri School for the Blind 3815 Magnolia Avenue, St. Louis Missouri.
When: Februrary 19, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Registration:
To register, submit the proper registration forms.
Registration: Open until January 3, 2025!
Register a Contestant:
- Contestant Registration Form
- Contestant Parent/Guardian Permission Form
- A legal guardian must submit this form prior to registration deadline to complete and confirm registration.
Register to Chaperone a Contestant:
- Chaperone Registration Form
- A teacher, friend, or family member may attend the Braille Challenge as a chaperone to the student. Chaperones will be able to attend fun activities on campus during the majority of the day, as the contestants will be in testing; however, we will be all together for opening ceremonies, lunch, activities, and awards.
Register as a Volunteer:
- Volunteer Registration Form
- In order to put on a great Braille Challenge, we need great volunteers! Assignments and duties include runners, proctors, general volunteers, and scorers. You’ll get a free lunch and a STLRBC T-Shirt!
- We will gladly assign individuals who are familiar and comfortable with UEB (TVIs, parents, etc.) to score challenge tests.
What is the Braille Challenge?
The Braille Challenge is a national braille contest created and sponsored by the Braille Institute of America. The Braille Challenge is a two-stage academic competition designed to support and enrich the reading and writing of braille.
The STLRBC is Missouri’s preliminary round; the Braille Institute invites the top 50 eligible contestants from across the United States to participate in the National Braille Challenge in California.
During the preliminary competition, students will participate in various tasks to test their braille skills! Categories include:
- Braille Speed and Accuracy
- Students listen to a digital audio story and transcribe it – both speed and accuracy count.
- Reading Comprehension
- Students silently read a story and then answer corresponding multiple-choice questions to test comprehension.
- Spelling
- Students braille vocabulary words in uncontracted braille. Contestants receive extra points for the same words brailled correctly in contracted braille.
- Proofreading
- Students read a faulty passage and look for braille, grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors.
- Interpreting Tactile Graphics/Chart and Graph Reading
- Students read tactile graphics to answer a variety of multiple-choice questions.
Who can participate?
Any student in the State of Missouri who loves reading and writing braille is welcome to participate! Contestants will participate in one of the following categories:
- Foundational (formally known as Rookie):
- All grade levels. The Foundational contest level is appropriate for any student who is in the process of learning braille.
- Foundational contestants can choose contracted or uncontracted braille.
- Contestants will participate in adapted versions of spelling, reading comprehension, proofreading, and listening comprehension.
- Apprentice:
- Grades 1-2. Older students can also participate in this level but are not eligible for the National Braille Challenge.
- NEW: Uncontracted Braille Only
- Contestants will participate in spelling, reading comprehension, and proofreading.
- Freshman:
- Grades 3-4. Older students can also participate in this level but are not eligible for the National Braille Challenge
- Contestants will participate in spelling, reading comprehension, and proofreading.
- Sophomore:
- Grades 5-6.
- Contestants will participate in reading comprehension, proofreading, speed and accuracy, and charts and graphs.
- Jr. Varsity:
- Grades 7-9
- Contestants will participate in reading comprehension, proofreading, speed and accuracy, and charts and graphs.
- Varsity:
- Grades 10-12
- Contestants will participate in reading comprehension, proofreading, speed and accuracy, and charts and graphs.
What materials will I need to provide?
Each contestant will require a manual brailler.
For contestants in the Sophomore, Junior Varsity, and Varsity levels, for Speed & Accuracy a MP3 device or braille refreshable display (with audio function only) and headphones are also required.
If you do not have the proper equipment, please notify the STLRBC Coordinator (contact information below) and we will assist you. The STLRBC will provide all other necessary contest materials.
My contestant would like to practice for the Braille Challenge. What can we do to prepare?
Previous testing materials are available from Braille Institute. These materials allow contestants to practice for the 2025 Challenge, as well as prepare them for what to expect on the day of the event.
Find practice materials on the Braille Institute’s Sample Contests webpage.
How can I volunteer for the Braille Challenge?
If you’re interested in volunteering at the event, we welcome your help! The Braille Challenge cannot take place without all of our wonderful volunteers.
To volunteer for the STLRBC, fill out the Volunteer Registration Form.
You don’t need to register as a Chaperone if you’ve registered to volunteer.
If you’re not sure what position you would like to volunteer for, contact the STLRBC Coordinator at the contact details below (email is the best method) and she will help you register and select an appropriate assignment.
I am coming to the event with my child/student. What should I expect?
To register to attend the STLRBC, please let us know using the Chaperone Registration Form.
The St. Louis Regional Braille Challenge provides activities and learning opportunities for family members and educators while contestants are testing. We also invite you to join us for shared activities, such as lunch, fun and games, and the STLRBC Awards Ceremony.
I have more questions! Who should I talk to?
Please contact the STLRBC Coordinator or Assistant Coordinator the contact details below (email is the best method).