Braille, Students, and Snakes Oh My!

State Library Hosts Regional Braille Challenge

Did you know that braille literacy is an essential part of education for blind and visually impaired students? Organizations like the Braille Institute and the SLNC Accessible Books and Library Services promote and support braille literacy in their communities.

The Braille Challenge, founded by the Braille Institute, is an annual competition that “motivates first through twelfth-grade students to improve and practice their braille literacy skills.” Now in its 23^rd year, the Braille Challenge holds regional competitions where over 1400 students across the US and Canada compete. The regional contests culminate with 50 finalists competing in Los Angeles, CA.

On February 11, 2023, the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, along with the SLNC Accessible Books and Library Services, hosted the Eastern NC Regional Braille Challenge in Raleigh, NC. This is the first year NC DNCR has hosted the competition. North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Reid Wilson kicked off the festivities by welcoming the student competitors, their families, and volunteers. During the Eastern NC Regional Braille Challenge, students were tested on basic braille skills such as reading comprehension, spelling, speed, and accuracy using braille writers, proofreading, charts, and graphs. Catherine Rubin, Director of the SLNC Accessible Books and Library Services, comments about the significance of the Braille Challenge, “I think it's very impactful because a lot of these kids will go to college and pursue careers, and braille literacy is something that is often an indicator of success throughout life.”

2023 Eastern North Carolina Regional Braille Challenge

In addition to the competition, participants, their families, and event volunteers attended a unique program presented by the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. The educational program allowed students to learn about animals native to North Carolina. The audience members even got to touch the lizards and snakes the museum staff brought.

It was a fun and exciting day celebrating the students’ achievements, the importance of braille literacy, and a sense of community and friendship. Braille Challenge competitor Aditi Rao sums up what participating in the Braille Challenge means to her, “I felt like I didn't belong, and then at the Braille Challenge, I met a whole community of people that were the same as me.”