2025 KY Braille Challenge: Celebrating 25 Years

For the last 25 years, students from around the world have come together for a braille literacy competition: the Braille Challenge. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the unique academic competition put on by the Braille Institute. 

What is the Braille Challenge? 

The Braille Challenge is a series of braille literacy tests for students grades 1-12. The students are tested on foundational skills including spelling, speed and accuracy, reading comprehension, proofreading, and charts and graphs. The students are split into six “levels” based on age. The newest level, the foundational level, is a non-competitive option for students looking to familiarize themselves with the process that began this year. The other five levels are made up of students who have a chance to go on to the National Braille Challenge event in Los Angeles. These five levels include: Apprentice (Grades 1-2), Freshmen (Grades 3-4), Sophomore (Grades 5-6), Junior Varsity (Grades 7-9), and Varsity (Grades 10-12). The top three students from each category in the regional Braille Challenge will be eligible to compete in nationals.  

This Year 

While the National Braille Challenge is celebrating 25 years, Kentucky is celebrating its 15th year of hosting a regional challenge. This past week, February 27th, Kentucky students gathered at the Kentucky School for the Blind to participate in the regional rounds of the event. The theme this year, “I Dig Braille” was inspired by the diamond being a symbol for 15 years. To celebrate, students received mining themed t-shirts, as well as an accessible digging for gems activity.  Students participated in a lively opening ceremony where they pledged the Braille Challenge Oath before their four rounds of testing. After their hard work, the students were given an exciting awards ceremony full of medals and prizes.  

Congratulations to the following winners: 

Apprentice 

1st place: Brody F. 

2nd place: Kaily A. 

3rd place:  AnnaShae W.
 

Freshman 

1st place: Bradley W. 

2nd place: Kylie R. 

3rd place: Malakai R. 

Jr. Varsity 

1st place: Addyson C. 

2nd place: Krishna M. 

3rd place: Hailey H.
 

Varsity 

1st place: Macy S. 

High Score Spelling (Apprentice/Freshman combined) 

Brody F. 

High Score Reading Comprehension: 

Macy S.