<div dir="ltr">Hi Randi,<div><br></div><div>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.</div><div><br></div><div>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 (<a href="http://www.dessci.com/en/products/mathtype/" target="_blank">http://www.dessci.com/en/<wbr>products/mathtype/</a>). This allowed for output to: Nemeth if the student wanted braille; HTML+MathJax for a browser; or remaining in MS Word.</div><div><br></div><div>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).</div><div><br></div><div>The CAR application may be another tool for you to use in exporting out an HTML file (<a href="https://www.cwu.edu/central-access/reader">https://www.cwu.edu/central-access/reader</a>) that works with a screen-reader.</div><div><br></div><div>When creating/editing the MS Word document, I recommend you follow proper semantics for headings and lists, text descriptions for images, etc.</div><div><br></div><div>Take care,<br>Sean</div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Dec 12, 2016 at 8:30 AM, Jiron, Randi <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:RJiron@roguecc.edu" target="_blank">RJiron@roguecc.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72">
<div class="m_-3649833116999361517WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d">Thank you for your response, Bevi.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d">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.
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d">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.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d">Thanks again for your response, any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d">Sincerely,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<div><span class="">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC";color:#002060">Randi Jiron,
</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:#002060">MBA/TM</span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC";color:#002060"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#002060">Disability Services Specialist<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#002060">Redwood Campus</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#002060"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#002060">Rogue Community College<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#002060"><a href="tel:541-956-7214" value="+15419567214" target="_blank">541-956-7214</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #e1e1e1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> athen-list [mailto:<a href="mailto:athen-list-bounces@mailman13.u.washington.edu" target="_blank">athen-list-bounces@<wbr>mailman13.u.washington.edu</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Chagnon | PubCom<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, December 9, 2016 4:36 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'Access Technology Higher Education Network' <<a href="mailto:athen-list@u.washington.edu" target="_blank">athen-list@u.washington.edu</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Athen] JAWS and PDF/Word/Text files<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
</div><div><div class="h5">
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ll let others address math-reading software.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A lousy PDF is a nightmare, but a well-tagged PDF with the correct reading order can be an excellent experience.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Text files shouldn’t even be considered because that file format lacks so much:<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="m_-3649833116999361517MsoListParagraph"><u></u><span style="font-family:Wingdings"><span>n<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u></u>Headings, which are critical for comprehension and understanding, as well as for navigating the book quickly.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="m_-3649833116999361517MsoListParagraph"><u></u><span style="font-family:Wingdings"><span>n<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u></u>Alt-text on graphics, which most likely will be the formulas and equations.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="m_-3649833116999361517MsoListParagraph"><u></u><span style="font-family:Wingdings"><span>n<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u></u>Hyperlinks for accessing websites, cross-references, tables of content, footnotes, indexes, and anything else that should be clickable.
<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="m_-3649833116999361517__MailEndCompose"><u></u> <u></u></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>However, before going further, I suggest you investigate 2 things about the PDF the student was already given:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>1. Is it fully accessible? That is, does it have the correct tags, reading order, alt-text, etc.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>2. Does the student know how to use JAWS? A short briefing in how to access documents quickly via keyboard shortcuts could help.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>3. And does her computer have software to specifically assist with reading math, science, etc.?<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>There are plenty of us on this list who could probably test the PDF for you. Just ask.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>--Bevi Chagnon<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:#d9d9d9">— — —<u></u><u></u></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt">Bevi Chagnon
</span></b></span><span><span style="font-size:9.0pt">|
</span></span><a href="http://www.pubcom.com/" target="_blank"><span><span style="font-size:9.0pt">www.<b>PubCom</b>.com</span></span><span></span></a><span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"> <u></u><u></u></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:4.0pt"><span><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt">Technologists, Consultants, Trainers, Designers, and Developers<u></u><u></u></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt">for publishing & communication<u></u><u></u></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:4.0pt"><span><span style="font-size:9.0pt">| Acrobat PDF | Print | EPUBS | Sec. 508 Accessibility |<u></u><u></u></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:#d9d9d9">— — —<u></u><u></u></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<span></span>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #e1e1e1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> athen-list [<a href="mailto:athen-list-bounces@mailman13.u.washington.edu" target="_blank">mailto:athen-list-bounces@<wbr>mailman13.u.washington.edu</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Jiron, Randi<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, December 9, 2016 6:49 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Access Technology Higher Education Network (<a href="mailto:athen-list@u.washington.edu" target="_blank">athen-list@u.washington.edu</a>) <<a href="mailto:athen-list@u.washington.edu" target="_blank">athen-list@u.washington.edu</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Athen] JAWS and PDF/Word/Text files<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hello,<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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?
<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you for your time.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sincerely,<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:Harrington;color:#7030a0">Randi Jiron</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:#7030a0">,</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:#7030a0">
</span></i><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:#7030a0">MBA/TM</span></i><i><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:#7030a0"><u></u><u></u></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Disability Services Specialist<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Josephine County<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Rogue Community College<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Gadugi",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"><a href="http://www.roguecc.edu/DisabilityServices/" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">www.roguecc.edu/<wbr>DisabilityServices/</span></a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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