About the National Literary Braille Competency Test

The test was developed in response to a recommendation of the Joint Organizational Effort Committee (JOE), which is made up of representatives from the American Council of the Blind, the American Foundation for the Blind, the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Blinded Veterans Association, the Candadian Council of the Blind, the Canadian National Insititute for the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind, and the National Library of Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) of the Library of Congress. The committee's promotion of braille literacy led to its concern that teachers of blind children and adults be skilled users of the reading medium they teach.

This committee asked the Library of Congress to prepare a braille competency test to evaluate braille reading and writing skills. NLS was asked to devise the test because of its expertise in braille codes, its previous testing of braille skills, and its impartiality. The resulting competency test is the product of the NLS Braille Development Section and an advisory committee that included respresentatives of major U.S. and Canadian groups concerned with blindness. The test was reviewed by educators, university faculty members, and rehabilitation teachers in various parts of the country.

General knowledge of the literary braille code is examined. The test does not cover specialized brailled codes, teaching competency, or methodology. A Library of Congress certificate of Competency in Literary Braille is awarded upon successful completion of the test.

This booklet contains a sample test with representative material for each of the three parts of the competency test. When taking the actual test, candidates mark answers directly in the test booklet. This practice is duplicated here. The directions correspond to those on the actual test. Scoring information is included. Answers to the sample questions are at the end of the booklet. The selections are shorter than the actual test, but errors made on the sample should alert the candidate to areas needing review prior to taking the test. To take this exam, a student contacts the NLS (1-800-424-8567) and arranges for an exam to be sent. The student must arrange for a proctor to monitor the exam. The student must arrive at the exam with a slate and stylus, a Perkins brailler, and paper. In the actual exam, the student marks his or her answers in the test booklet.