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National Federation of the Blind Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest

The Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest is a national contest for students who read Braille, kindergarten through twelfth grades, and all adult Braille readers.  The purpose of the program is to promote the joy of reading for pleasure, to promote a pride in Braille as a viable literacy medium equal to print, and to demonstrate the importance of independent reading in the development of Braille literacy skills.

What's New?

We have added a number of new elements to the competition this year.

  • Along with a contest for children grades K-12 there is a contest for adults this year. Adults with various levels of experience reading Braille have the chance to join in the fun! The adult competition will very closely parallel the traditional student competition with all of this year’s additions (for more information see below).
  • Participants now have the opportunity to form teams to compete for a special award. Teams may have as many as five and as few as two members. Members of a team do not need to reside in the same state. Teams should work together to read as many pages as they can and to show their love of Braille through team spirit!
  • The Leader Board is another addition to this year’s competition. Throughout the contest participants may compete for a spot on the Leader Board by updating their reading log electronically. Contestants may update their reading log as often as they desire. At four secret dates during the contest the reading log data will be pulled. The top three contestants in each category according to the electronic data will be put on the Leader Board. Contestants whose names appear on the Leader Board during the contest will receive a special prize. NOTE: Contestants who update their reading log electronically throughout the contest should keep a copy of their reading log for their personal records as a cumulative log must be submitted at the conclusion of the contest.
  • Contestants who submit ALL of their paperwork electronically will be entered into a drawing for an additional prize. To qualify participants must submit all of the following electronically: contest registration, registration for any special awards, and contest entry form (reading log). 
  • Because we have added so many new elements this year, please be sure to read the contest rules for the K-12 Contest and the Adult Contest.

K-12 Contest

Forms



Schools for the Blind Recognition



Residential or day schools for the blind that enroll a significant percentage of their students in the contest and in other ways promote Braille literacy and the Braille Readers Are Leaders program during the contest period receive a special certificate suitable for framing and public display. 

Do you want to promote the NFB Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest at your school or library?  Get contest flyers here!



2009 Braille Readers Are Leaders Winners

Not old enough for the Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest?
Braille Reading Pals - Early Literacy Program 

Braille Reading Pals is an early literacy program that gently encourages and rewards parents for reading daily with their blind or low vision children ages 0-7 (or older if the children have developmental delays) who are not yet reading. Sponsored by the Jernigan Institute, this free two-month program begins November 1 and concludes December 31. Click the following link to obtain registration forms and for more information about the program: Braille Reading Pals overview and Spring Program Registration.

Adult Contest-NEW THIS YEAR!

Categories



There are five categories in the regular competition:

  • Beginner:  read uncontracted Braille only or read contracted Braille at a rate of 80 or fewer words per minute (wpm)
  • Intermediate:  read contracted Braille at a rate of 80-160 wpm
  • Advanced:  read contracted Braille at a rate of 160-220 wpm
  • Expert:  read over 220 wpm
  • Parent/teacher:  sighted parents and teachers of the blind qualify for the parent/teacher category.

How to determine your reading speed

To determine your reading speed pick a Braille passage and read over it once casually.  Set a timer for one minute.  Start the timer and begin to read.  When the timer sounds mark your spot.  Go back and count how many words you read.  Any word in the English language counts as a “word” in this test.  So, the word “a” counts as one and the word “knowledge” counts as one even though it is only one character in contracted Braille.  So, if you read the sentence, “Sally and Bob are coming home from a long trip,” you read ten words.  Repeat this one minute test three times with the same passage.  Add your scores up and divide by three to get your average.  Use this number to determine which category is appropriate for you.

Team of the Year Award



This award is given to the team who demonstrates the best combination of the following: number of pages read, team spirit and incorporation of readers at all levels. A team may consist of as many as 5 and as few as 2 participants.  Please see the form below to join this competition!

Forms

 

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This page was last modified on October 7, 2009 at 14:58.

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