The Regional Challenge Will Take Place at TSBVI on Saturday, January 28, 2017 From

Thank you for your participation in the 2017 Central Texas Regional Braille Challenge. In this letter, we hope that you will find everything you need to make this a fun and successful experience for your child. We look forward to meeting all of your children at the Challenge this year! The event HAS MOVED! We will be hosted by TSBVI at 1100 W. 45 th St. The Braille Challenge will be in the James C. Durkel Conference Center, the building to the west of the Main Building. You will enter on Miller Drive by the Superintendent’s historic home.

The Regional Challenge will take place at TSBVI on Saturday, January 28, 2017 from 8:30am-4:00pm.

All students will take the contest using a Perkins Braillewriter. Participants are allowed to use “next generation” braillewriters. Please have your child bring their choice of braillewriter with them to the contest. TSBVI will be coordinating this effort for those students who attend TSBVI daily. Many of the older students will need to bring an electronic book reader, such as a Stream, but we will be in contact with teachers about this.

Prior to the contest, we hope that students will take some of the practice tests with their TVI so they are familiar with the format and instructions for the test before the actual challenge. Your TVI’s have been informed about these practice documents. For the administration of the test, students will be separated into different rooms according to their contest level.

Lunch will be provided the day of the contest for students, families and volunteers. If your child has special dietary restrictions or allergies, please plan accordingly.

Parents will attend sessions in the morning related to the Expanded Core Curriculum. In the afternoon, we have a keynote from Patricia Walsh, Paralympic Triathlon participant last summer in Rio. She will also be selling her book, Blind Ambition. Following that, UT Engineering students will be leading experiments for our students.

We look forward to hosting you and your children at the 2017 Central Texas Regional Braille Challenge. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call 512-919-5354 or email [email protected] . We understand that some of you live outside of our area and may not be able to attend. We will take photos!

Sincerely,

The 2017 Regional Braille Challenge Planning Team Carolyn Mason, Renee Toy, Debra Leff and Cyral Miller