[Athen] [EXT] Math accessibility question - need feedback

[Robert Beach]

I would agree with you that alt text on an image of an equation is not accessible. The equation cannot be navigated to read element by element as is sometimes needed in math.


Robert Lee Beach
Assistive Technology Specialist - Student Accessibility & Support Services

Kansas City Kansas Community College
7250 State Ave. - Suite # 3384 - Kansas City, KS 66112
O 913-288-7671 | F 913-288-7678
rbeach at kckcc.edu<mailto:rbeach at kckcc.edu>



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Subject: [EXT][Athen] Math accessibility question - need feedback

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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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DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS | One Division. One Mission.

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