Students across the state, in grades 1-12, are invited to participate in the 2012 Nebraska Braille Challenge. The one-day event will be held on the NCECBVI campus on Wednesday, February 29, 2012, beginning at 9:00 a.m. This is a great opportunity to encourage school-age Braille readers to highlight their Braille skills and perhaps qualify for the national competition. Prizes will be given to top award winners and ribbons will be presented to remaining participants. All of the students will receive a certificate of participation and a t-shirt.

The Nebraska Braille Challenge is free to any student who is a Braille user. There are two forms to complete for each student’s registration:

1. NCECBVI Registration Form. Please be sure information is completed in all sections. Demographic data, as well as housing and meal information is needed in advance for students, families, and teachers/educational staff who will be attending. A signature is needed from a parent/guardian and also from a school district representative.

2. The Braille Challenge Permission Form. This form is required by the National Program of the Braille Institute and must be completed in its entirety. A parent signature and printed name must be included. On the bottom of the form, you can list my name as the Regional Coordinator: Tanya Hilligoss. Please complete the TVI information including name, email, and phone number. The TVI is also responsible for completing the Student’s Contest Level and whether or not the
student is at Grade Level.

Both registration forms are due by Wednesday, December 14, 2011. Completed paperwork should be mailed to: Nebraska Center for the Education of Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired, Attn: Carmen Bahr–Outreach Secretary, 824 10th Avenue–P.O. Box 129, Nebraska City, NE 68410.

In addition, an all-day Parent Workshop is planned for the day which will occur simultaneously while students participate in the Braille Challenge. The registration form for the Parent Workshop is available by contacting Carmen at 800-826-4355 or 402-873-5513, or cbahr@esu4.net. Parent Workshop registration is also due to Carmen at NCECBVI by Wednesday, December 14, 2011.