[Athen] JAWS and PDF/Word/Text files

[Sean Keegan]

Hi Randi,

Text files will not be an option for math content. Your options will be
either MS Word or HTML if using a screen-reader. I can't say I would turn
to PDF - I agree with Bevi that the file format has much going for it, but
the issues I experienced with students had more to do with integration
between the screen-reader and the Adobe Reader/Acrobat software that made
reading PDF documents problematic, particularly for larger documents.
Perhaps the functionality has improved in the past year.

In terms of doing alt media production, I have found MS Word to be the most
flexible environment as it provides sufficient editing tools and allows for
a variety of output formats. For blind students who needed documents with
math content, we would do our authoring in MS Word and use MathType for the
equations (http://www.dessci.com/en/products/mathtype/). This allowed for
output to: Nemeth if the student wanted braille; HTML+MathJax for a
browser; or remaining in MS Word.

If the student is a JAWS user (ver. 17+), then the HTML+MathJax output
should be something to try with the student. You create the document and
equations in MS Word using MathType. From the MathType ribbon, you can then
choose to Export to MathPage with the output setting specifying the MathJax
output. The student can then read the HTML file in either IE or Firefox
with JAWS (I have had much better success with JAWS 17+ with Firefox).

The CAR application may be another tool for you to use in exporting out an
HTML file (https://www.cwu.edu/central-access/reader) that works with a
screen-reader.

When creating/editing the MS Word document, I recommend you follow proper
semantics for headings and lists, text descriptions for images, etc.

Take care,
Sean



On Mon, Dec 12, 2016 at 8:30 AM, Jiron, Randi <RJiron at roguecc.edu> wrote:


> Thank you for your response, Bevi.

>

>

>

> Well, first off, we haven’t worked with a student with needs like this for

> quite some time. No since way back when we were providing books on tape/CD.

> So, I’m sure I have a lot to learn about accessibility in PDF files. Also,

> I was just informed of this student by our coordinator last week and was

> expected to provide electronic files for her by the second week in January,

> we will be going on break soon, so unfortunately that limits my time. It

> would have been nice to have meet with her a month ago to get things ironed

> out. So, I don’t know what her level of expertise is with JAWS and I don’t

> know what software she has been provided on her laptop.

>

>

>

> That being said, where can I learn about creating accessible PDF files? We

> get most of the electronic files from a publishing clearinghouse, so I

> doubt they are already accessible, but I can send you a sample chapter. We

> do have access to Adobe Pro which my research tells me can be used to tag

> the PDF files?? I have also been asked to scan a small book that we don’t

> have a publisher file for. Can I also tag the file I will be creating? I

> don’t even know where to begin on the math book since I’m sure there will

> be special software to make the math equations accessible.

>

>

>

> Thanks again for your response, any other suggestions would be greatly

> appreciated.

>

>

>

> Sincerely,

>

>

>

> *Randi Jiron, *MBA/TM

>

> Disability Services Specialist

>

> Redwood Campus

>

> Rogue Community College

>

> 541-956-7214

>

>

>

> *From:* athen-list [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu] *On

> Behalf Of *Chagnon | PubCom

> *Sent:* Friday, December 9, 2016 4:36 PM

> *To:* 'Access Technology Higher Education Network' <

> athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> *Subject:* Re: [Athen] JAWS and PDF/Word/Text files

>

>

>

> I’ll let others address math-reading software.

>

>

>

> But in terms of giving a PDF versus a Word versus a text document, I’d go

> for the PDF. That is, if it is tagged correctly for full accessibility.

>

>

>

> A lousy PDF is a nightmare, but a well-tagged PDF with the correct reading

> order can be an excellent experience.

>

>

>

> Word has its accessibility problems: one key problem for textbooks is that

> text boxes that are often used for pull quotes and sidebar material are not

> accessible in Word. But they can be made accessible in a PDF.

>

>

>

> Text files shouldn’t even be considered because that file format lacks so

> much:

>

> n  Headings, which are critical for comprehension and understanding, as

> well as for navigating the book quickly.

>

> n  Alt-text on graphics, which most likely will be the formulas and

> equations.

>

> n  Hyperlinks for accessing websites, cross-references, tables of

> content, footnotes, indexes, and anything else that should be clickable.

>

>

>

> However, before going further, I suggest you investigate 2 things about

> the PDF the student was already given:

>

> 1.           Is it fully accessible? That is, does it have the correct

> tags, reading order, alt-text, etc.

>

> 2.           Does the student know how to use JAWS? A short briefing in

> how to access documents quickly via keyboard shortcuts could help.

>

> 3.           And does her computer have software to specifically assist

> with reading math, science, etc.?

>

>

>

> There are plenty of us on this list who could probably test the PDF for

> you. Just ask.

>

>

>

> --Bevi Chagnon

>

>

>

> — — —

>

> *Bevi Chagnon *| www.*PubCom*.com <http://www.pubcom.com/>

>

> *Technologists, Consultants, Trainers, Designers, and Developers*

>

> *for publishing & communication*

>

> | Acrobat PDF | Print | EPUBS | Sec. 508 Accessibility |

>

> — — —

>

>

>

> *From:* athen-list [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu

> <athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu>] *On Behalf Of *Jiron,

> Randi

> *Sent:* Friday, December 9, 2016 6:49 PM

> *To:* Access Technology Higher Education Network (

> athen-list at u.washington.edu) <athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> *Subject:* [Athen] JAWS and PDF/Word/Text files

>

>

>

> Hello,

>

>

>

> We have a new student who is blind and requested alternate format for her

> books. She is a JAWS user and first requested PDF files but then said JAWS

> wouldn’t work well with the PDF and asked for Word docs. We provided the

> Word docs and she says her computer froze up while trying to access. She is

> now asking for TEXT files, one of the books is a math book. She is working

> with Commission for the Blind, who has provided her with the laptop and the

> software that she is using. I suggested that she contact her advisor at

> Commission to ensure the computer is working properly and to see if there

> is tech support through that organization. Other than that, do you have

> some suggestions for us on providing electronic text for this student

> especially the math book? Isn’t there special software for converting the

> math portion of the math text book?

>

>

>

> Thank you for your time.

>

>

>

> Sincerely,

>

> *Randi Jiron**,*  *MBA/TM*

>

> Disability Services Specialist

>

> Josephine County

>

> Rogue Community College

>

>

>

> 541-956-7214 Redwood Campus

>

> 541-471-3550 FAX

>

> 7-1-1 OTRS (Oregon Telecom Relay Service)

>

> www.roguecc.edu/DisabilityServices/

>

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