Dear Braille Challenge Participants And Family Members:

Name Address address

Dear Northern California Braille Challenge Participants and Family Members:

Welcome to the 2012 Northern California Braille Challenge!

We are excited to confirm your registration for the Northern California Braille Challenge to be held Saturday March 3, 2012 at the Santa Clara Valley Blind Center. A special day awaits you and your family. Summarized below is information for all contestants, families and friends.

Event Location and Directions Santa Clara Valley Blind Center 101 North Bascom Avenue San Jose, CA 95128 Enclosed are driving directions, and parking information. Also included is public transportation information.

When to Arrive Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Please arrive no later than 9:00 a.m. so contestants have enough time to complete registration and be ready for the Opening Ceremony. Complementary pastries and beverages will be available.

What to Wear Every contestant will receive a specially designed Braille Challenge T-shirt to wear that day and to keep as a memento. Contestants should wear comfortable clothes so that it will be easy to put the T-Shirt on over what they are wearing.

What Contestants Should Bring If contestants have a Victor Reader Stream or a Book Port Plus, portable, digital talking book players, and headphones, it will be advisable to bring their own. If contestants do not have their own, one will be provided. Please confirm if you are bringing your own equipment. In addition, if contestants have their own Braille writer, they are welcome to bring it as well.

Refreshments Complimentary lunch will be provided. Schedule for the Day

8:30 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. Registration, Complimentary pastries and coffee

9:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Procession for Contestants

9:30 a.m. – 10:0 0 a.m Welcome and Introductions - Auditorium Keynote Speaker – Caitlin Hernandez, Past National Winner of the Braille Challenge

10:05 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Contestants and Proctors proceed to Session 1

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a. m. Parent Workshop - Auditorium Presenter: Dr. Sharon Sacks, PhD “What Does It Take To Be Successful?”

10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Session I - Contestants

11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Session II – Contestants

12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Lunch - Auditorium and Patio

12:45 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Contestants proceed to Session III

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Session III and Session IV - Contestants

1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. Panel Discussion - Auditorium “Up Close with Apple Products; Blind Users Perspective, from Education to Entertainment” facilitated by Richard Rueda, Director of Transition Services, Junior Blind of America

2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Games for Contestants and All Raffle Prizes will also be awarded Auditorium

3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Award Ceremony Auditorium

We will have Resource tables available from local agencies for the blind, Junior Blind of America and Access Ingenuity. Access Ingenuity will have samples and information about products from Humanware, Freedom Scientific and other access technology vendors.

The Braille Challenge is a National Program of the Braille Institute of America. The 2012 Northern California Braille Challenge is made possible through a collaboration between Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, California School for the Blind, SF LightHouse for the Blind, and Society for the Blind. Junior Blind of America has worked closely with us for planning the day’s events and Santa Clara Valley Blind Center has provided wonderful logistics support and the venue.

Questions? We are looking forward to celebrating Braille with you and enjoying a special community get-together. If you need any additional information before the event, please feel free to contact me at 650-858-0202 x130 or email [email protected].

Sincerely,

Alice McGrath

Alice McGrath Community Relations Coordinator Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired