[NFBCS] I need a math whiz to help me with a professor

Mon Jun 26 17:06:32 UTC 2023

Hi Gary. I recently wrote this up to send to an adaptive Tech Assistant who had sent an inquiry to our program at the Carroll Center. Hope this information helps.

Hello. Having worked as an assistant to adaptive technology coordinator at my community college for several years, I am quite familiar with the issues with math and science notation when it comes to students who are blind. Your question was specific to screen readers, and I will be talking about that, but I wanted to mention Braille, also. The first question we always asked when a student enrolled in a math course, was in regards to reading preference. If a student is a proficient Braille reader, higher math, as much as possible, should be done in Nemeth or UEB math Braille. Being able to hear the math properly with a screen reader is very helpful, however not always the best way to understand the concepts, without being able to have a long, complicated equation under their fingertips,  especially one which might take up several lines. Unfortunately, math and science notation is the most difficult thing to put out in a timely manner for a student, especially when there are several other alternate formats needing to be created for others. Here in Missouri, we were fortunate enough to be able to outsource to our prison Braille and narration center. However, many times we found ourselves scrambling to try and get the first chapters of a book done, so that the student wouldn’t fall behind. We also had to outsource to have a book or two done by paid professional services. Also, tactile graphs are very important. Even if the student is not a Braille reader, they prefer to be able to feel those, rather than to have them described by alternate text.

Now onto the subject of screen readers and math. The most important thing to know, is that math has to be created in the proper markup language, for any screen reader to read it correctly. Math on the web, is created with the MathML markup. The links I will be posting in this email will hopefully give you the information you need to make this work for your students. I am also sending a link to information on how to create accessible math using the Microsoft Word equation editor. It is important to note that math in PDF form will not read correctly with a screen reader. Properly marked up Math from hard copy or pdf, also cannot simply be rendered from a scan. If instructors don’t create their notes and tests, using the correct equation editing, those notes have to be typed in manually for a screen reader user, or Braille reader to be able to access. Some publishers have implemented MathML in some of their online content, so you can reach out to them for information on that possibility. The VPAT on a publisher’s website does not necessarily guarantee a specific book or lab is going to be accessible. MathML files created by your department with in Word using the MathType software, must be converted to HTML, for the student to be able to access with a screen reader. The only way the math will read in Word, if created that way, is if the student also has MathType on their machine. If equation editor is used, the math can be read and manipulated using Jaws, and it’s math viewer and editor.

Here are the links to information on how all of this can be done. Hopefully these resources will be helpful to you.

Linda C.

Creating and Reading Accessible Math - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wufqq72hhcM

Accessible Math Editor: Word – Perkins School for the Blind

https://www.perkins.org/resource/accessible-math-editor-word/

A link to information on creating math in Braille:

https://www.washington.edu/doit/what-are-some-techniques-creating-braille-math-materials

From: Nick Corbett <nick.corbett at carroll.org <mailto:nick.corbett at carroll.org> > 
Sent: Friday, June 2, 2023 10:05 AM
To: Hope Paulos <hope.paulos at carroll.org <mailto:hope.paulos at carroll.org> >; Linda Coccovizzo <linda.coccovizzo at carroll.org <mailto:linda.coccovizzo at carroll.org> >; Nick Claudio <nick.claudio at carroll.org <mailto:nick.claudio at carroll.org> >; James Duffy <james.duffy at carroll.org <mailto:james.duffy at carroll.org> >
Subject: Fwd: Screen Readers for Math

Hi Linda, Jim, Nick, and Hope,

Might I ask each of you for your thoughts related to the below question about screen readers for interacting with algebra? My gut says this has to do more with the program that is displaying mathematical statements than the screen reader being used to view the mathematical statements. If this is accurate in your views, is there specific software that you would recommend for viewing mathematical statements?

Nick

Nick Corbett <http://www.linkedin.com/in/nickdc95> 

Accessibility Training and Research Coordinator

The Carroll Center for the Blind <https://carroll.org/> 

Screen Reader User Tester Training (SRUTT) Program <https://carroll.org/screen-reader-user-tester-training-program/> 

770 Centre Street, Newton, MA 02458

Phone: (617) 969-6200 ext. 210

Cell: (401) 633-4883

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Luis Gutierrez <Luis.Gutierrez at guttman.cuny.edu <mailto:Luis.Gutierrez at guttman.cuny.edu> >
Date: Fri, Jun 2, 2023 at 10:46 AM
Subject: Screen Readers for Math
To: Nick.Corbett at carroll.org <mailto:Nick.Corbett at carroll.org>  <Nick.Corbett at carroll.org <mailto:Nick.Corbett at carroll.org> >

Dear Nick,

I hope this email finds you well. My name is Luis Gutierrez and I’m the assistant director of disability services at Guttman Community College. I was able to review your presentation at the Accessibility Summer Camp today. 

I was wondering if you could provide me with some recommendations of screen readers that work well with reading formulas for subjects like college algebra, trigonometry, or even exams with chemistry along with biology.  

Any suggestions you can provide of screen readers that are accessible to students with disabilities in math, chemistry, or biology would be greatly appreciated. 

Thank you so much. 

Kind Regards, 

Luis Gutierrez 

 <https://guttman.cuny.edu/> 

Luis Gutierrez 

Assistant Director of AccessABILITY Services           

Guttman Community College

50 West 40th Street

New York, NY 10018

Phone: (646) 313-8256

E-mail: Luis.Gutierrez at guttman.cuny.edu <mailto:Luis.Gutierrez at guttman.cuny.edu> 

Web: https://guttman.cuny.edu/students/accessability/

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From: NFBCS <nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Gary Wunder via NFBCS
Sent: Monday, June 26, 2023 11:42 AM
To: nfbcs at nfbnet.org; apmaneki at earthlink.net
Cc: Gary Wunder <gwunder at earthlink.net>
Subject: [NFBCS] I need a math whiz to help me with a professor

A friend from my high school class is a professor and she asks me this question: do you have a recommendation for software to make mathematical expressions, formulas and/or graphs accessible to seeing impaired students?

Thanks for giving me contacts.

Warmly,

Gary

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