[nabs-l] struggling with Math

Sun Aug 28 18:39:51 UTC 2016

I know how to write in Nemeth. It's just trying to do it on my Apex is
a bit difficult. It's an Elementary/Intermediate Algebra class.

On 8/28/16, KENNEDY STOMBERG via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Actually, it is perfect that Steve responded! Because he was the resource I
> was going to Point you too. He mentioned the NFB math list on NFB.net. That
> is definitely a good resource. And they might have more answers to the
> questions you're looking for. If you were trying to learn the basics of
> Nemith,I believe there are some cheat sheets out there that you can use this
> for specific math symbols. Can you tell me what type of math class you're
> taking? Is it algebra? Geometry? If you let me know, I might be able to find
> something for you for learning Nemith.
>
> Kennedy Stomberg
> (218)295-2391
>
>> On Aug 28, 2016, at 10:59 AM, Kayla James via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>> I am already in the Math class. It's my first college Math class and
>> my first one without Braille books and tactile aids. I only intend to
>> take any minimum required Math. Disability services said I'd get a
>> note taker, but they don't do readers for textbooks. So far, I've used
>> the scanner and WindowEyes at school to scan my work this week. School
>> started last Monday.
>>
>>> On 8/28/16, Steve Jacobson via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> Kayla,
>>>
>>> I majored in math many years ago before we had much of the current
>>> technology, but my interest in math has continued so I try to remain
>>> current.  I say this partly to let you know that blind people can do
>>> math
>>> and also to make the point that one sometimes has to look at all
>>> options,
>>> technical and nontechnical.
>>>
>>> Are you interested in math in a way that will cause you to take a lot of
>>> classes, or is your goal going to be to just get through the minimum
>>> requirements?  That will affect how you go about addressing this.
>>>
>>> First, to answer your specific question, it isn't the scanner that needs
>>> to
>>> be able to deal with math, rather it is the OCR software.  There is a
>>> product for scanning math but it is quite expensive, and it doesn't just
>>> magically give you a perfectly accessible textbook.  From what I have
>>> heard,
>>> it is sometimes necessary to use that product together with other OCR
>>> products to get one accessible copy because other products recognize
>>> text
>>> better.  In addition, there are issues of how to display math so that it
>>> can
>>> be read by a screen reader and/or a Braille Note.  All of this can be
>>> done,
>>> and people who are heavily involved in math do this successfully.  There
>>> is
>>> a mathematical typesetting language called Latex, and many people learn
>>> to
>>> read that language directly and can get copies of math tests that way
>>> from
>>> publishers, and some of us have learned to write LATEX to create
>>> printouts.
>>> .  There is something called MATHML that can be made to be accessible.
>>> I
>>> am
>>> purposely not going into more detail because I don't think that will
>>> help
>>> right now, but I want you to know why it matters how interested you are
>>> in
>>> math.  We even have a separate list called BlindMath on NFBNET where
>>> math
>>> professionals deal with a lot of these topics.
>>>
>>> Having said all of this, what does this mean for you right now?  Are you
>>> working with a disabled Students' office on your campus?  What has
>>> already
>>> been done to find out what is available for you?  How are your braille
>>> skills in general?  I would caution you against feeling you have to
>>> master
>>> the entire Nemeth Code to take a required math course, it would work
>>> better
>>> to learn the basics and then what you need as you go.  Although it
>>> probably
>>> isn't a preferred approach, it is possible to learn math by working with
>>> a
>>> reader or even a audio recording if it is done well.  Learning to
>>> interact
>>> with someone to read the text might be a better short term solution
>>> rather
>>> than trying to understand some of the processes I mentioned above.  With
>>> a
>>> little lead time, there are places that might be able to braille or scan
>>> your math books if you are almost ready to start a math course.  In that
>>> approach, knowing enough Nemeth Code so you can take some notes for
>>> reviewing later will help very much.  Getting math books in braille can
>>> be
>>> done with some lead time.  This is getting harder to have done, though,
>>> but
>>> your Disabled Students' Office or even your state agency may know
>>> whether
>>> there are any agencies that you can work with.  If you are going to
>>> start
>>> your first math class in a week but have no idea how to handle the
>>> textbooks, you might need to find a way to put off taking your math
>>> course
>>> so you can investigate some of this.
>>>
>>> It is very natural to be scared of facing something new, and I know what
>>> I
>>> have written here probably doesn't make you feel much better.  However,
>>> it
>>> can be done, and I and others can make better suggestions if we know
>>> more
>>> about what you've already done and how interested you are going to be in
>>> mathematics.
>>>
>>> Best regards,
>>>
>>> Steve Jacobson
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: NABS-L [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kayla James
>>> via
>>> NABS-L
>>> Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2016 11:23 PM
>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>> Cc: Kayla James <christgirl813 at gmail.com>
>>> Subject: [nabs-l] struggling with Math
>>>
>>> Hello, everyone,
>>> I'm struggling in Math a little. Does any know of scanners that can
>>> scan textbooks and pick up the Math symbols?
>>> I have a BrailleNote Apex. I'm still trying to work out the Nemeth code.
>>> I also have a MacBook Air. If there are any scanners that can hook up
>>> to it that anyone knows of, please let me know.
>>> I could really use the help. I'm scared, because it's so early in the
>>> year, but I want to do well.
>>>
>>> Kayla
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> On 8/27/16, Caitlin Best via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> Chicago manual of style 15 and 16 editions.
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>
>>>>> On Aug 27, 2016, at 17:54, Justin Williams via NABS-L
>>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> What format are you using?
>>>>> Justin
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: NABS-L [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Keight
>>>>> Best
>>>>> via
>>>>> NABS-L
>>>>> Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2016 6:54 PM
>>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Cc: Keight Best <bestca21 at gmail.com>
>>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] Citation Sites
>>>>>
>>>>> Hello everyone,
>>>>> I hope you are doing well. I am curious to know which websites you use
>>>>> in
>>>>> order to cite materials and create bibliographies. A professor of mine
>>>>> recommended Zotero, but I am not entirely sure how accessible/usable
>>>>> it
>>>>> is
>>>>> with JAWS. Currently, I am using RefWorks, with seems to work fine.
>>>>> Thoughts
>>>>> appreciated.
>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>> Caitlin
>>>>>
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