[BlindMath] Advice on handling the visual side of mathematics

Fri Feb 6 15:20:09 UTC 2026

Hi Amaan,

I'm a college student studying applied math, so I've encountered some of the situations that you're describing. Regarding graphing functions and transformations, I've found Desmos graphing calculator to be helpful:
https://www.desmos.com/calculator
You mentioned that you've used Desmos Scientific Calculator, but the graphing calculator allows you to explore graphs of functions auditorily. If you use a Windows PC, the following tutorial might be helpful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EMZDUxV1l4
The functions in this video are just examples; you can graph more complicated things, such as a function and its derivative. However, I don't think Desmos supports graphing in three dimensions or higher, so it may not be as helpful if you are primarily doing multivariable calculus. 
Here is the Desmos accessibility documentation:
https://www.desmos.com/accessibility
If your college will provide them, I might also recommend requesting tactile graphics for any graphs that you either can't graph on Desmos or are still having trouble understanding, and as someone else mentioned, you can use the Be My Eyes app and/or other AI tools to get descriptions of graphs that you encounter. I realize that tactile graphics will rarely be available in the real world, but they can be helpful in developing a foundational understanding of graphs.
Regarding what you might do for exams, I've taken a few different approaches, depending on the type of problem. If I am given a problem with a graph that I need to analyze, I am usually given a description, tactile graphic, or Desmos version of the graph in question, which I use to solve the problem. If I am required to produce a graph as part of the problem, I am sometimes allowed to use Desmos to graph it initially and explore its features, but I'm also typically required to give a verbal description of the important features of the graph (shape, intercepts, concavity, etc.) so that my professor knows that I understand the relationship between equations and graphs.
I hope all of this is helpful! Feel free to email me off list if you have other questions; I know that this was kind of rapid fire.

Best,
Campbell Rutherford

-----Original Message-----
From: BlindMath <blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of amaan sherani via BlindMath
Sent: Friday, February 6, 2026 9:32 AM
To: 'blind math' <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
Cc: amaan sherani <amaansherani877 at outlook.com>
Subject: [BlindMath] Advice on handling the visual side of mathematics

Hi everyone,
Hope this email finds you well. I am a university student studying AI, and mathematics is a big part of my degree. and I wanted to ask for advice on handling the more visual parts of maths.
I am fine with understanding common graphs and charts at a basic level, like what a histogram or Venn diagram looks like in statistics. The part I find harder is when a question expects you to sketch something, or when a visual picture is important to solve it properly.
Some examples I have faced so far are:

sketching graphs, especially quadratics and other functions, and using the graph to answer questions

transformations such as reflections in the x axis or y axis, and shifts and stretches

understanding the shape and behaviour of functions, like where the curve increases or decreases, turning points, and intercepts

trigonometry and unit circle style thinking, like angles in radians and how the graph of sin or cos behaves

mechanics topics where a diagram is usually drawn, like forces, equilibrium, and resolving forces into components

calculus questions where a sketch helps with interpretation, like gradient, tangents, or understanding what a derivative means on a graph At the moment, if a question is strictly “draw the graph”, I try to build a mental picture using key points and behaviour, and if drawing is not required in my assessment, I sometimes skip that part. But even when it is not required, I still want a better approach so I can understand the topic more fully.
How do you deal with these visual requirements in practice, especially in exams or timed assessments Are there any tools or techniques that have worked well for you, specific ways of describing graphs and diagrams in addition, I am trying to find an accessible Stats calculator, so far I've found desmos scientific Calculator its helpful in physics but not much in stats.
Any advice would be really helpful.
Thank you,

Kind regards

Amaan Sherani

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