[Blindmath] Accessible PDF testing

[Neil Soiffer]

FYI for the group:

There is a PDF/UA specification that was approved last year by ISO (ISO
14289).  This standard specifies what it takes for a PDF document to be
accessible.  Unfortunately for this group, it doesn't have much help for
math.  That's because math support is linked to a second version of PDF
(IS0 32000-2) and that draft is still in the works.  When that moves along,
a V2 of ISO 14289 will come out that will (likely) use MathML tagging to
make math in PDF documents accessible.

In the meantime, the PDF association is developing the Matterhorn Protocol
[1] that is a list of things that can be checked by machine or by hand
about accessibility.  It also includes metadata meant to be part of the PDF
that specifies information about the accessibility of the document.  At
some point, PDF accessibility checkers will likely use that list and embed
the metadata about the accessibility of the document in the document.

Neil Soiffer
Senior Scientist
Design Science, Inc.
www.dessci.com
~ Makers of MathType, MathFlow, MathPlayer, MathDaisy, Equation Editor ~



[1]
http://www.pdfa.org/news/pdfua-competence-center-matterhorn-protocol-nears-completion/


On Fri, Feb 15, 2013 at 6:58 AM, Tochel Claire (NHS EDUCATION FOR SCOTLAND
- EH2 1EL) <c.tochel at nhs.net> wrote:

> Hi all,
> I wondered if I could ask if there are any list members who have a spare
> couple of minutes to simply open a report that my team has produced and
> give me quick feedback on its Accessibility? We created it using LaTeX,
> have run a range of post-processing checks on it, and have just had it
> formally reviewed by AbilityNet - but I would hugely appreciate some
> first-hand comments from a specialist membership such as this list who may
> use a range of screen readers or other technologies. One of my colleagues
> tried to read it using Zoomtext and did not seem to have much luck, but
> AbilityNet have told me that their tests with Jaws were successful.
>
> I don't want to take up much of anyone's time, but will happily pass on
> the URL (or email a PDF) to anyone who can spare a small amount of time.
>
> I should warn you that it is a report on the Dental Workforce in Scotland
> - so if you are having trouble sleeping it may come in handy...
>
> Claire Tochel
> Analyst
> NHS Education for Scotland
>
>
>
>
>
> From: Tochel Claire (NHS EDUCATION FOR SCOTLAND - EH2 1EL)
> Sent: 16 July 2012 18:07
> To: 'blindmath at nfbnet.org'
> Subject: Accessible documents - alternate text in LaTeX
>
> Hi all,
> I am new to this forum so I hope that my query is appropriate.
>
> I work in a team which uses LaTeX to produce analytical reports for
> Government, Health Boards, healthcare professionals and the public in
> Scotland. We are trying to make our reports as Accessible as possible, but
> I have not been able to work out if it's possible to automatically build in
> alternate text to figures and tables. I know how to do this manually as
> post-processing in Adobe Acrobat, but it is time consuming and has to be
> done for each new version of a document, which is obviously very
> inefficient.
>
> Do you know if there is a way of building this in to the LaTeX code?
>
> I would also appreciate any other tips or advice when preparing technical
> reports in LaTeX to maximise their Accessibility to potential readers with
> visual impairments.
>
> Thanks
> Claire
>
>
>
> ____________________________________
>
> Claire Tochel
> Analyst
> c.tochel at nhs.net<mailto:c.tochel at nhs.net>
> NHS Education for Scotland
> www.nes.scot.nhs.uk<http://www.nes.scot.nhs.uk>
> 0131 313 8085
>
>
>
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