Celebrating Excellence: Audrey Graves Named 2025 Braille Institute Teacher of the Year

In a monumental announcement, the Braille Institute has awarded the prestigious title of 2025 Teacher of the Year to Audrey Graves. This recognition highlights her outstanding contributions towards advancing braille literacy and education for blind and visually impaired students. As part of the Braille Challenge®, an annual event celebrating braille literacy, this year marks the event's 25th anniversary, further emphasizing its importance in fostering student achievement across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, and Ireland.

Audrey Graves, who currently serves as an Outreach Consultant at the Nebraska Center for the Education of Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired (NCECBVI), has over two decades of experience in special education. Throughout her career, she has taken on a variety of roles, from classroom teacher to principal. However, her passion has always been centered around empowering students, nurturing their confidence, promoting self-advocacy, and instilling independence through dedicated braille instruction.

Graves articulates the importance of braille in her students' lives, stating, "Braille opens the doors to literacy, greater independence, and increased opportunities. Being part of that journey with my students is an incredible privilege. I'm deeply honored by this recognition from Braille Institute." This perspective showcases not only her dedication to education but also her commitment to enhancing the lives of her students.

Her teaching approach blends creativity with compassion. Graves goes beyond the standard curriculum by forming meaningful connections with her students. Her lessons often incorporate elements of music and humor, creating an enjoyable learning environment. One parent of a student with Batten Disease attested to Graves' unique impact, noting that she has both educated and inspired her daughter to dream about higher education, future careers, and a purpose-driven life.

The impact of Audrey Graves has not gone unnoticed by her peers. Braille Institute's CEO, Jim (Dimitri) Kales, praised her remarkable dedication to her profession, saying, "Audrey’s deep passion, leadership, and creativity reflect the very best of what it means to be a Teacher of the Year. Her impact will be felt for generations." This statement underscores the significant influence that exceptional educators like Graves can have on future generations.

Statistics reveal that braille literacy is crucial for long-term success, highlighting the critical need for educational champions such as Audrey Graves. Research indicates that approximately 90% of employed adults who are blind are proficient in braille. This data reinforces the vital role that educators play in shaping the landscape of possibilities for visually impaired students, ensuring access to employment and independence.

The work of Braille Institute spans over a century, empowering people with vision loss through comprehensive programs and services offered free of charge to over 20,000 children, youth, and adults annually. Such initiatives are made possible by the generous support from donors, allowing institutions like the Braille Institute to recognize extraordinary educators like Audrey Graves.

Graves will be formally honored at the Braille Challenge Finals on June 28, 2025, to be hosted at the University of Southern California. This event promises to celebrate not only her achievements but also the collective mission of promoting braille literacy and fostering educational success within the visually impaired community.

In conclusion, Audrey Graves embodies the qualities of an extraordinary educator. Her dedication, creativity, and commitment to her students' growth stand as testament to the life-changing impact educators can have. The Braille Institute's recognition of her contributions serves as an inspiration for current and future teachers as they continue to uplift and empower students from all walks of life, particularly those facing the unique challenges of visual impairments.