[Blindmath] Issues with electronic math files and screen readers/braille displays

[Noble,Stephen L.]

Smarter Balanced takes the recorded audio route. They have a human reader read all the math expressions and link in the audio. That is certainly better than nothing, but it leaves a number of problems that would not be present if they actually took the time to use MathML. And to be honest, I would not be surprised if they were actually spending a lot more money making all the recorded audio than they would be if they just spent the time creating the MathML.

- One thing about recorded audio, of course, is that there is no braille access. Using MathML you get audio output PLUS braille without having to spend and extra dime.
- Using MathML you also get great screen enlargement for the math since the expressions are not images. The expressions won't become degraded on the screen as you enlarge them, plus you can change font and and background colors on the fly...something which is impossible to do with images.
- Also, for speech users, you can change how the speech is rendered based upon the needs of the student. For instance, Nemeth braille users can hear MathSpeak simply by switching the output style in the software...just a simple click. But that speech isn't something you want to use with LD users. For example, MathPlayer 3 lets you select the intended target user and so get the kind of speech that works best for the student's disability. When recorded audio is used, you only get "one size fits all."

--Steve Noble 
________________________________________
From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Madeleine Rothberg [madeleine_rothberg at wgbh.org]
Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2012 10:59 AM
To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Issues with electronic math files and screen readers/braille displays

Patricia,

Michigan is part of the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium. (Learn
more at http://www.smarterbalanced.org/    )

Is that the standardized test you are discussing? If so, there are
accessibility efforts going forward for the test but it is always better
to have more advocates speaking up, to ensure the best possible results.
So please do bring this up with your state officials.

I'm not directly involved in this work (nor am I involved with the other
assessment consortium, PARCC), but I am following their accessibility
efforts with interest.

-Madeleine

--
Madeleine Rothberg
Project Director
Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family National Center for Accessible Media at WGBH
http://ncam.wgbh.org
madeleine_rothberg at wgbh.org



On 5/9/12 12:43 PM, "Patricia Balassone"
<Patricia.Balassone at lansingschools.net> wrote:

>I enjoy reading posts from the BlindMath listserve, although I admit I
>don¹t understand a lot of what is discussed. That being said, I¹m looking
>for some input as to the difficulties encountered when creating an
>electronic math document that can be understood with screen readers and
>braille displays. Beginning in 2014, the state assessment tests that our
>high school students are required to take will only be available via
>computer-generated programs. I will be talking with some of the people
>who are responsible for creating the programs to administer these tests
>and I want to use this opportunity to help make them aware of the issues
>specific to braille readers. I realize I may be asking for a lot of
>information, so it might be easier to have conversations offlist.
>Thank you for any help you can give,
>Patricia Balassone
>VI parapro
>Sexton High School
>Lansing MI USA
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