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<DIV><FONT size=2>For Your Information.</FONT><BR></DIV>Forwarding this on from
Nancy Niebrugge.<BR>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT><FONT size=2></FONT><BR>
<DIV>Begin forwarded message:</DIV><BR class=Apple-interchange-newline>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite">
<DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT style="FONT: 12px Helvetica; COLOR: #000000"
face=Helvetica color=#000000 size=3><B>From: </B></FONT><FONT
style="FONT: 12px Helvetica" face=Helvetica size=3><A
href="mailto:NNNiebrugge@brailleinstitute.org">NNNiebrugge@brailleinstitute.org</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><FONT style="FONT: 12px Helvetica; COLOR: #000000"
face=Helvetica color=#000000 size=3><B>Date: </B></FONT><FONT
style="FONT: 12px Helvetica" face=Helvetica size=3>November 12, 2008 1:54:52
PM EST</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px"><BR></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR><FONT size=6><B>
The Braille Challenge® </B></FONT>
<DIV align=center><BR><FONT size=6><B>Reading, Writing & Spelling
Contest</B></FONT> <BR><FONT size=5><B>Registration Now Open for the 9th
Annual Braille Challenge®!</B></FONT> <BR><FONT size=3>Registration for
students taking the contest individually begins <B>November 3, 2008 and runs
through December 19</B>. Teachers—please visit our website today
--<B>WWW.BRAILLECHALLENGE.ORG</B> -- to submit an online form to register your
students. (If you are unable to access the online form, please call
1-800-BRAILLE for assistance.) Please register all your students on one form.
Parents—you cannot register your child yourself; students must be registered
by their teacher or attend a regional event, as all Challenge contests must be
proctored by a teacher for the visually impaired. Preliminary Challenge
contests must be taken and returned to Braille Institute between January 1 and
March 9, 2009.</FONT>
<P><IMG height=133 alt="Three young boys recieving their awards"
src="cid:6DA4552EE6FA4139A49209F31EEC4A9C@heathersony" width=204><IMG
height=133 alt="Young girl competing in Braille Challenge"
src="cid:4F9EBD1D9E0B4266B9B2ADC62203ACC1@heathersony" width=204><IMG
height=133 alt="Two teenage girls having fun at the Braille Challenge"
src="cid:5A14120CA17C4FA0B8810E987EF955A3@heathersony" width=204><IMG
height=133
alt="The crowd cheers for their favorite teacher at the Braille Challenge"
src="cid:D5F5AEF2E57643ECB67E317082B5F49C@heathersony" width=204> </P>
<P><FONT size=3><B>Looking for practice materials to get started right away?
Visit the website to access sample contests available for download.</B></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT size=3>The Braille Challenge®, Braille Institute's national reading
and writing contest in braille, is a great way to motivate blind and visually
impaired students to practice their literacy skills. Students test their
skills in reading comprehension, braille speed and accuracy, proofreading,
spelling and reading tactile charts and graphs. More than 500 students from
first through twelfth grades participated in the Preliminary Round last year.
The top-scoring 65 came to Los Angeles in June for the Final Round—two days of
competition, camaraderie and fun!</FONT> </P>
<P><FONT size=3>There are two ways students can participate—teachers can
register their students to take the contest individually, or students can take
part in one of the regional events held throughout the U.S. and Canada. There
are 32 regional Preliminary Round events planned for early 2009, including one
in Northern California and one in Orange County. A regional event brings kids,
families and professionals together as a fun way to celebrate braille
literacy. Check the website for a list of regional events.</FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=sans-serif
size=2><B>WWW.BRAILLECHALLENGE.ORG</B></FONT></P></DIV><BR><FONT
face=sans-serif size=2><BR>Nancy Niebrugge<BR>Asst. VP of Programs and
Services<BR>Braille Institute <BR>741 N. Vermont Avenue, LA, CA
90029<BR>323-663-1111, ext. 3113</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR>
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