Sheema Shaikh, 12, of Corona is one of the 50 finalists in the 2021 Braille Challenge competition.
As a finalist, she is one of those who achieved the highest scores in the braille literacy testing competition, out of more than 1,000 youth across the United States and Canada.
Competitors are placed in five categories based on their age — Apprentice, Freshman, Sophomore, Junior Varsity and Varsity. The 10 best scores in each category qualify for finals from the regional competitions that took place all around North America earlier in 2021.
Finals are traditionally held in Los Angeles on the campus of the University of Southern California. However, this year’s finals testing and surrounding events will be conducted remotely, with finalists testing in their hometowns, according to a news release.
The closing award ceremony will be livestreamed July 30 on the Braille Institute’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/user/BrailleInstitute.
Closing ceremonies will include the announcement of the winners, guest speakers and entertainment, including a keynote speech from Craig Meador, president of American Printing House for the Blind. The week leading up to the closing ceremonies will include workshops conducted by organizations and companies in the visual impairment and assistive technology fields.
The Braille Challenge is the only academic competition of its kind in North America for students who are blind or visually impaired, according to the news release. It motivates students in first through 12th grade to hone and practice their braille literacy skills. Competitors are tested on fundamental braille skills such as reading comprehension, spelling, speed and accuracy, proofreading, and charts and graphs.
For information, go to www.brailleinstitute.org/braille-challenge.
