Boy wins Braille Challenge, goes to nationals in L. A.
Santiago Hernandez, a 12-year-old Gabilan Hills student, has
been spending his first weeks of summer vacation studying. The
seventh-grade student is preparing to compete in the National
Braille Challenge in Los Angeles June 24-26, at the Braille
Institute of America.
Hernandez took first place in the regional challenge in the
Northern California Regional Braille Challenge for the seventh- to
10th-grade division in February and will be representing the state
against students from the United States and Canada.
The shy middle-schooler was born blind and doctors said he
doesn’t have a specific diagnosis
– they said something went wrong with his eye development while
his mother was pregnant. His mother adds that until recently he was
talkative and outgoing. The staff at the Braille Institute have
talked to the parents about preparing the competitors to be
interviewed by the press, especially if th
ey make it to the final round at Nationals.
Boy wins Braille Challenge, goes to nationals in L. A.
Santiago Hernandez, a 12-year-old Gabilan Hills student, has been spending his first weeks of summer vacation studying. The seventh-grade student is preparing to compete in the National Braille Challenge in Los Angeles June 24-26, at the Braille Institute of America.
Hernandez took first place in the regional challenge in the Northern California Regional Braille Challenge for the seventh- to 10th-grade division in February and will be representing the state against students from the United States and Canada.
The shy middle-schooler was born blind and doctors said he doesn’t have a specific diagnosis – they said something went wrong with his eye development while his mother was pregnant. His mother adds that until recently he was talkative and outgoing. The staff at the Braille Institute have talked to the parents about preparing the competitors to be interviewed by the press, especially if they make it to the final round at Nationals.
Hernadez’ mother Rosa Argelia Hernandez said the family found the information on the Braille challenge online in 2009, but he delayed entering because he had to have surgeries that year. When he entered this year, his mom was originally surprised that he would be competing against students up to 10th grade.
“I didn’t agree, but they said he can learn (how the competition works) and have an opportunity next year,” Rosa said.
The competition includes a variety of challenges that test Braille aptitude such as transcribing, reading and typing using a device called a Perkins Brailler. His mother said he was calm the entire competition and kept repeating that he was going to win.
“People were outside talking about the kids that won last year and the ones that had already gone this year,” she said, of her thought that he might not win.
When a very smart ninth-grade girl took second place, she was sure the top prize had gone to someone else. Instead, Hernadez’ name was read out as the first-place winner.
“I was crying when I heard he was first place,” she said.
As for Hernandez, he said he wasn’t surprised at the win. He had been studying for the competition.
Hernandez has a Braille machine he plugs into the Internet that allows him to download books to read. The Braille keys change as he reads each line of text, the same concept as an e-reader where different books can be downloaded electronically. He also has a portable machine that his mom referred to as like an “iPod touch.” The machine allows Hernandez to search the Internet and even has GPS on it.
If he is in an unfamiliar place and needs to find something, like a restroom, the machine will give him directions as to how many feet to walk in what direction. Hernandez also has a computer at home and his mom says he spends a lot of time on it. He can use both a Braille and qwerty keyboard.
“He spends a lot of time in his room,” his mother said. “I didn’t know he was studying.”
The family, including Hernadez’ father Miguel and younger brother, will attend the competition in Los Angeles. His mother said they will spend three days in Los Angeles and then the family will be attending a camp for the blind in Malibu from June 29-July 4.
“We can go if there is one person in the family who is blind,” she said. “It helps us see we are not the only family with this kind of life – we are more sure of what he will become.”
The camp is open to families with visually-impaired children as well as adults who are visually impaired.
Rosa said the camp is a chance for Hernandez to meet other families, for the family to find out about new resources and also to offer support to families who have a newly diagnosed member.
Hernandez said he is looking forward to the trip, though his mother admitted she is a little nervous about the competition. She said Hernandez is most excited at the prospect of wining the PacMate, a pocket PC with a Braille display, one of the newest gadgets available. The first through third place winners will also receive a savings bond ranging in value from $500 to $5,000 depending on the age group.
