[nabs-l] struggling with Math

Sun Aug 28 21:27:06 UTC 2016

Oh OK! Sorry, I didn't realize that that was the problem. I think with Kristen suggested is probably the best thing. I'm honestly not sure, as I have never used an apex. Having a reader might also be a good idea, although I get it if that's not your preferred method. If DSS will not hire one for you, you may be able to pay a reader by taking them out to lunch or providing snacks or coffee at your at your sessions as Elizabeth suggested.

Kennedy Stomberg 
(218)295-2391 

> On Aug 28, 2016, at 1:39 PM, Kayla James via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 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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>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>> 
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>>>> m
>>>> 
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>>>> 
>>>> 
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