[Blindmath] CFA for Visually Impaired Candidates: Math and Other Challenges

[Roopakshi Pathania]

For those who are intrigued enough to read the email based on the subject, here is the story.

I have gone and done yet another crazy thing in my life: registered for Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) June 2011 exam.
I knew that there were going to be problems especially since CFA people informed me that they do not have any special provisions for the Math portion of the course. No LaTeX source, no MathML, and no Braille.
But I thought that I’ll use InftyReader to solve that problem.

At this point of time, I’m guessing that there are probably around 10 – 20 blind individuals who have taken this exam. And if anyone on this list knows of such a creature, I would appreciate knowing about her or him.

Registration was tough as CFA institute’s website isn’t particularly accessible. Anyway, I’m use to inaccessible websites.

Now comes the interesting part. The curriculum ebooks have to be downloaded through a Bookshelf application by a company called VitalSource Technologies.
This application is accessible to a certain extent. However, I haven’t been able to download a single book. The folder that Bookshelf creates within My Documents is empty even after the download/ cancel button has disappeared for the book. No way of finding out the download progress.
There is also an app for iPhone/ iPod Touch. On my first try, it took so long to download a book that I got a “request timed out” message. Will try out again later.

But I’m now worried about the quality of the PDFs that would be provided. What if they have low resolution or what if they are only scanned images?
InftyReader doesn’t play well with those kinds of books.
Also, they might not allow me to move PDFs out of the folder.

As if that’s not enough, here is what they need to allow me the privilege to use a writer.
 
“4. In addition to Parts I, II, and a comprehensive evaluation, you must attach all relevant professional documentation such as: all past professional evaluations, school records, report cards, transcripts, special education reports, previous test results (such as SAT/ACT), faculty comments, job performance reviews, a personal statement, or any other documentation demonstrating a history of significant impairment.” 

Why should I submit all these documents? Don’t they trust evaluation performed by a medical professional?
This is way more than what GRE guys ask for.
I’ll keep more of my personals views off-list.
All in all, I’m rather disappointed. I thought ADA compliance should be better than the kind of treatment I get from examination authorities in India.