[Athen] Math accessibility question - need feedback

[Sebastian M Niles]

Justin

This is a good question. It's generally preferred that math content not be included as images. If you image tag the math, it becomes harder for visually impaired students using screen readers to follow equations because they can't simply go back through parts of an equation (like with MathML). They'd have to listen to the entire image tag again. In addition, if you include math content in a PDF, it might not be formatted as math and screen readers may not read equations as equations. I've found it's best just to leave math content in a Word document.

Regards

Sebastian Niles, CPACC (he/him/his)
Accessible Technology Assistant
Student Disability Center
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA 95616
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From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> on behalf of Romack, Justin <justinr at disability.tamu.edu>
Sent: Thursday, November 2, 2023 10:00 AM
To: athen-list at u.washington.edu <athen-list at u.washington.edu>
Subject: [Athen] Math accessibility question - need feedback


Howdy y’all!



I’m totally blind, so I’m trying to be cautious in approaching my question here and the response I provide to others in similar discussions as to not inject my bias…



But when producing accessible STEM content (specifically materials with equations), is it widely agreed upon that equations as images with alt text are less preferrable or not acceptable as compared to the same equations provided in MathML?



I’m seeing a trend where STEM content is shared as a PDF and, while equations are properly tagged with alt text that is a textual representation of the content being displayed, I find this far less navigable than would be a document with equations in MathML.



Is it technically accessible? Debatable. Is it functionally equivalent or equitable access… My opinion is no.



Would love for you to chime in!



Thanks,

J



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Justin Romack  | Assistant Director

Disability Resources | Texas A&M University

1224 TAMU | College Station, TX 77843-1224



ph: 979.845.1637 | justinr at disability.tamu.edu<mailto:justinr at disability.tamu.edu> | disability.tamu.edu

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