[Blindmath] Math graphs

Wed Oct 3 02:06:39 UTC 2012

Hi Catalina,
What format is your textbook currently in? Do you have access to any
tactile versions of the graphs or is any audio description provided?
Or are the graphs simply left out of your text?
I agree with others that there are several ways  for you to succeed in
this type of math class. As you have seen, some blind folks like to
use tactile graphs and others prefer verbal descriptions. We all learn
differently and  whether you use a tactile graph or get someone to
describe it to you  is your choice. If your college does not have a
lot of Braille embossing resources, you could start by working with
the professor or a reader to describe things. If you are still having
trouble following, you could investigate some low-tech ways  to make
tactile graphs on your own.
It's important to remember that algebra itself is mathematical, not
graphical. Sighted people like to use graphs as one way of
representing mathematical relationships, but most algebraic concepts
can be represented equally well in words or equations. Reading every
graph from your book in detail might not be essential for
understanding the main ideas of the course.
I am personally one who prefers verbal descriptions or equations to
tactile graphs, as I have good math skills but poor spatial skills. I
have taken math up through calculus and am on my fifth statistics
course now as I  am getting a Ph.D. in experimental social psychology.
I never had any tactile graphs for any of my stats classes and rarely
needed to get a description either, because statistics can be
understood in terms of equations or  verbally. In my current advanced
stats course (structural equation modeling), the sighted students draw
or interpret diagrams to solve problems. I have other students or the
professor describe diagrams to me, and write my own models in the form
of equations, commands to a computer program or in words (i.e. "An
arrow connects y1  and y3 passing through y2". The only time I really
worry about the graphics is when I do my final  class assignment since
that will be presented to other students and possibly published. In
that case, I will work with a reader to make sure the diagram makes
sense visually.
Best,
Arielle

On 10/1/12, Ken Perry <kperry at blinksoft.com> wrote:
> If tactile diagrams are not available then audible spoken descriptions can
> work.  I went through college with no tactile graphs.  I am 100% blind and
> took all the way up to calculus 3.  It can be done.  Now that doesn't mean
> it is a perfect situation but it can be done.
>
> Ken
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of John Gardner
> Sent: Monday, October 01, 2012 1:18 PM
> To: 'Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics'
> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Math graphs
>
> Sorry, but verbal descriptions of graphs used in algebra are seldom useful.
> Get tactile diagrams.
> John Gardner
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC)
> Sent: Monday, October 01, 2012 8:05 AM
> To: 'Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics'
> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Math graphs
>
> You will need someone to explain the graphs to you.
> I'd suggest you ask your professor to do this, explain that you want to
> understand this, that you can't access the graphs so you'd like them to
> describe them.
> Go in with the attitude that you care and want to learn this.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Catalina Acevedo
> Sent: Monday, October 01, 2012 6:08 AM
> To: blindmath at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Blindmath] Math graphs
>
> Hello,
> My name is Catalina. I am taking a math class and use Braille.
> I have a difficult time with my class because the 3 chapters of my math
> textbook at my college are almost entirely graphic. I told the instructor I
> cannot do it since it is very hard to understand the graphs for this
> intermediate to advance algebra class. But they tell me they don’t know how
> to accommodate me. They use MyMathLab, which is not accessible for me.
> Does anyone have any suggestions, please? How does a blind student navigate
> a textbook that has a lot of graphs?
> Thanks a lot,
> Catalina
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