[Athen] Math accessibility question - need feedback

[Romack, Justin]

Susan, you're understanding is spot on and the way you're doing it is the way I've always advised folks on my campus.

Math is not always read linearly and one limitation of using alt text for equation content is that the only mode you have to move through the mathematical content is linear. Another major downside of alt text equation content is that it is just displayed as literal text on a Braille display, whereas MathML can easily be translated to Braille or displayed as Nemeth on an external Braille display. Again, this practice may pass some technical accessibility checklists... but I've not encountered a blind/VI student yet who wants this method of presentation for math content.

Thanks for jumping into the conversation - your input is always appreciated!

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.

From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> On Behalf Of Susan Kelmer
Sent: Thursday, November 2, 2023 12:15 PM
To: Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: [Athen] Math accessibility question - need feedback

Oh my! Are people really doing that? I would never, and I mean never, do it that way! I provide Math content for students who are blind in MathML format, having made it using MS Word and MathType. My understanding (and I am not blind) is that
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This message came from outside your organization.
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Oh my!  Are people really doing that?

I would never, and I mean never, do it that way!  I provide Math content for students who are blind in MathML format, having made it using MS Word and MathType.  My understanding (and I am not blind) is that doing math in MathML means the student can access the full equation, move around within the equation, and it will be recognized by the screen reader properly.  If I were just doing it by creating alt-text on images, who knows if it would be correct or not?  Who would be the content expert who would write those descriptions?  Ouch.

Susan Kelmer
Alternate Format Production Program Manager
Disability Services
Health and Wellness Services
T 303 735 4836
www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices__;!!KwNVnqRv!D9uVsFX_02zHJbZXSeo1pTdAAmsyHpKR0gpCjS-z878-FTv_G38cZHD-3CS2gw3edSSUDf4Hs1sMGmjfF8zU8PbWGnX_TKkE1y4$>


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From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu>> On Behalf Of Romack, Justin
Sent: Thursday, November 2, 2023 11:00 AM
To: athen-list at u.washington.edu<mailto: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

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS | One Division. One Mission.

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