Orlando 8-year-old to compete in National Braille Challenge

ORLANDO, Fla. — Princeton Elementary student Addison Burgess is changing the way people think about visually impaired individuals.

Addison Burgess was one of only 60 children who qualified for a highly acclaimed competition known as the National Braille Challenge.

Parents Dan Burgess and Kathy Burgess said their daughter is smart and knows what she wants.

"It's just genuine and there's nothing forced about it. It's just what she does," Dan Burgess said.

Addison is heading to California in June to compete in the National Braille Challenge against 11 other blind or visually impaired students in her age group.

The 8-year-old can't see but excels in the classroom and can read the same work as her classmates.

"Yeah, she's going to be pretty smart. We've got our hands full," Dan Burgess said.

For the challenge she'll be creating braille on paper using a device called a brailler. Her parents said they're amazed at how quickly she can do it.

"That's what blows me away when she is reading because there is so much to know," Kathy Burgess.

Her parents said they have Princeton Elementary to thank for their daughter's ongoing success.

"We don't have enough words to express how grateful we are," Dan Burgess said.

Website: Let's Get Addie to California

WFTV