N.J. Braille students compete for spot in national contest
New Jersey Braille students will spend Saturday reading, typing and transcribing material — all for fun.
First through 12th graders will compete in the New Jersey Braille Challenge in Toms River with the hopes of qualifying for the national Braille Challenge.
Sponsored by the state’s Department of Human Services’ Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Braille Institute Auxiliary, the New Jersey competition tests students in reading comprehension, Braille spelling, chart and graph reading, proofreading and Braille speed and accuracy.
Six Garden State students will compete for the 60 spots in the national arena:
Kaleigh Brendle of West Freehold Elementary School in Freehold
Sami Ishaq of Franklin Park Elementary in Princeton
Natasha Ishaq of Sampson G Smith Middle School in Princeton
Andrew “Andy” Smith of Edison High School in Edison
Mihir Doshi of Montgomery Lower Middle School in Belle Mead
Romy Lopez of Hunterdon Central Regional HS in Flemington
Last year, Brendle and Doshi made the final round out of more than 850 preliminary round contestants in North America.
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