[BlindMath] JAWS now supports Native Math Equations in Word

[Robin Williams]

Dear all,

I thought this section of the release notes to the latest update to JAWS 2021 might be of interest to some of you. I'm not sure if other screen readers already have this support.
>From the Freedom Scientific website:

JAWS and Fusion now supports reading math content in Word documents inserted through the Office ribbon without the need for additional extensions. While you can still use the MathType extension from Design Science to create math content, you now have the option to also use the built-in math creation functionality in Word. Whether math content was inserted in a document using the MathType extension or directly through the Insert tab of the ribbon, when you encounter a math equation or formula, JAWS reads the problem and then says "Math Content." You can then press INSERT+SPACEBAR followed by EQUALS to open the JAWS Math Viewer so you can study the equation in greater detail.

Once the Math Viewer is opened, you can navigate individual parts of an equation, such as variables, terms, coefficients, or exponents. As you navigate to the various components, pressing DOWN ARROW lets you drill down into and navigate within that level of the equation using LEFT and RIGHT ARROW. Pressing UP ARROW moves you back to the prior level. In addition, if you have a Braille display and JAWS is set to United States English or Unified English Braille Grade 1 or Grade 2, math equations or formulas are displayed in Nemeth Braille. Pressing ESC closes the Math Viewer and return to the document.