2012 TENNESSEE REGIONAL

BRAILLE CHALLENGE APPLICATION

This is a regional event of Braille Challenge – A National Program of Braille Institute

The Tennessee Regional is sponsored by the B’nai B’rith Maimonides Lodge #46

Student name:  ________________________________________

Age:  __________________    Grade:  _____________________

School:  __________________________________

Home mailing address:  _________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Length of time studying braille (years & months):  ______________

Teacher of the Visually Impaired:  __________________________

Contact information for TVI:  ______________________________

                                                  (phone and/or email)      

TVI Mailing address for contest information (school or home):

_______________________________________________________

Student’s T-shirt size (specify child or adult):  _________________

If teachers or parents would like to order additional shirts, you may order them for $5.00 each.  You may send in payment with the application or pay on the day of the Challenge when you pick up the shirt.  Please specify number and size(s):  ____________________________________________

Person(s) to contact in case of postponement due to inclement weather:

_______________________________________________________

(You may list more than one person.  Please provide a phone number/and or email address if not previously listed above.)

Check contest level below:  (See attached page for level information)

_____  Apprentice – contracted

_____  Apprentice – uncontracted

_____  Freshman

_____  Sophomore   

_____  Junior Varsity

_____  Varsity

Sophomore, Junior Varsity and Varsity students – Does your student have access to a VictorReader Stream or a Bookport Plus for the Speed and Accuracy test?

                                         Yes              No

Please mail application forms to:                   Or fax to the attention of Julia

Tennessee School for the Blind                      Hedrick at: 615-871-9312

Attn: Julia Hedrick

115 Stewarts Ferry Pike                                 

Nashville, TN  37214                                     Or email the completed form to

                                                                julia.hedrick@tnschoolfortheblind.org

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Julia Hedrick at the e-mail address above or call her at the school (615)231-7300.

Sample materials are available at http://brailleinstitute.org/contest_categories

New This Year – Students may use ANY MANUAL brailler – this includes the Perkins Classic, the new APH/Perkins Light Touch, and the APH/Perkins Next Generation brailler. Students will use 8 ½” x 11” paper.  The Speed & Accuracy test is now formatted for 8 ½ x 11” paper.  However, TSB will provide only the Perkins Classic, so if your student wants to use one of the other braillers, they will need to bring their own.

Sophomore, Junior Varsity, and Varsity students:  Speed and Accuracy tests will require the use of either a VictorReader Stream or a Bookport Plus.  We will do our best to provide enough for each registered student, but arrangements may need to be made for your student to become familiar with the navigation of one of these devices before time for the test.

SIXTH ANNUAL TENNESSEE REGIONAL BRAILLE CHALLENGE EVENT

The Tennessee Regional Braille Challenge is a regional event of “The Braille Challenge, a national program of Braille Institute.”  Braille Institute provides all contest materials, rules, and guidelines.

This year’s Regional Braille Challenge will be held on February 23, 2012 at the Tennessee School for the Blind.  In case of inclement weather, the event may be moved to March 1, 2012.

The Braille Challenge® is an academic competition designed to motivate blind students and to emphasize their study of Braille.  Students whose scores are in the top rankings in the preliminary round are rewarded with an invitation to the national competition in Los Angeles, which combines many fun activities with an exciting competition.  Students from across the United States and Canada compete in the preliminary rounds as individuals and in regional competitions.

Students may participate in any of the following levels, based on their individual level of braille proficiency.  However, in order to be eligible to go on to the National Braille Challenge Competition in Los Angeles, California on June 22-23, 2012, students must participate at their grade level in the regional contest.  Students who are not ready to compete on grade level may still participate in the regional event, but may not be eligible for regional prizes if students on grade level are competing in the same level.  To determine the appropriate level of competition for your student you can go to http://www.brailleinstitute.org/challenge_resources to download sample tests.  These samples are representative of the difficulty level of the preliminary round contests.

* This year for the first time the speed and accuracy test will be digital. Students must use a VictorReader Stream or a Bookport Plus for this part of the test.

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