Math Accommodations

Issues Accessing books/problem sets Accessing books/problem sets Doing homework/tests Doing homework/tests Getting information in class Getting information in class

Tips for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students

Suggestions for Instructors Face the students Face the students –Do not talk facing the board Repeat student questions Repeat student questions –The deaf student may not have been looking at the questioner Make sure you can be seen clearly Make sure you can be seen clearly –Do not stand and talk in front of a bright window Use gestures Use gestures –Pointing to what you’re talking about is helpful Build in pauses Build in pauses –Deaf students do a lot of multi-tasking, allow some pauses

Tips for Students with Upper Limb Impairments

Software Math equation programs allow keyboard entry Math equation programs allow keyboard entry –Scientific Notebook –MathType (plug-in for Word) MathTalk allows voice entry MathTalk allows voice entry –Requires MathTalk, Dragon NaturallySpeaking and Scientific Notebook (all three!)

MathTalk OR OR

Books On-screen Scan to PDF Scan to PDF Read visually on-screen (no TTS) Read visually on-screen (no TTS) Foot pedal mouse Foot pedal mouse Use Dragon to advance pages onscreen Use Dragon to advance pages onscreen Remove spine and rebind to lay flat Remove spine and rebind to lay flat Use hardware page-turning systems Use hardware page-turning systems

Tips for LD Students

Verbalize Instructor side Instructor side –Concrete, specific descriptions –Verbalize equations and operations Student side Student side –Verbalize the process –Have students explain patterns they see

Strategies Spread one semester courses over two Spread one semester courses over two Teach strategies, not just algorithms Teach strategies, not just algorithms Tactile graphs Tactile graphs Manipulatives Manipulatives Color highlighting Color highlighting Draw pictures Draw pictures

Self-help Work in quiet without clutter Work in quiet without clutter Videotape students studying Videotape students studying –Students may be totally unaware of what they are doing while studying— videotaping provides feedback

Word Problems Learn key words Learn key words –“and,” “sum,” “increased” mean add –“take away,” “difference,” “less” mean subtract –“of,” “times” means multiply –“per,” “out of,” “ratio of,” “quotient” mean divide Highlight what is important Highlight what is important –Look for key words List information List information Draw pictures Draw pictures

Auditory Math Math books in MathML Math books in MathML –Create in MathType or Scientific Notebook MathPlayer reads and highlights MathPlayer reads and highlights –Free download from Design Science – Read&Write Gold, Dolphin Tutor, and WYNN work with MathPlayer Read&Write Gold, Dolphin Tutor, and WYNN work with MathPlayer –Kurzweil only works from the Web interface.

Please Note Many LD students do not find hearing problem sets helpful Many LD students do not find hearing problem sets helpful HOWEVER, many LD students find hearing word problems extremely helpful! HOWEVER, many LD students find hearing word problems extremely helpful!

Online for LD* ModuMath Tutorials ModuMath Tutorials –Video tutorials for basic math and algebra – ALEKS ALEKS –Assessment and learning – Khan Academy (videos) Khan Academy (videos) – * Please note: Although helpful, these programs not fully accessible— do not require them for all students.

MuchoMath Professor Larry Perez at Saddleback College Professor Larry Perez at Saddleback College You Tube math videos You Tube math videos –

Learning Styles for Math Christine Tunstall at Mt. SAC Christine Tunstall at Mt. SAC –Instructional Specialist in ABI Resources to help students learn how to learn math Resources to help students learn how to learn math dsps_33/class_handouts.html dsps_33/class_handouts.html dsps_33/class_handouts.html dsps_33/class_handouts.html

Tips for Low Vision Students

Software for Writing Math Keyboard entry Keyboard entry –Scientific Notebook –MathType Equations can be enlarged Equations can be enlarged Voices what is written Voices what is written –Chatty Infty –

Creating Large Print Start with PDF Start with PDF Crop pages Crop pages Print to fit page (11 in. x 17 in.) Print to fit page (11 in. x 17 in.) Can tile pages Can tile pages –Portion of page enlarged to full sheet

Enlarging Math in Word Math equations created with MathType plug-in Math equations created with MathType plug-in – Create a “Preferences” file Create a “Preferences” file –Can save multiple preference files Apply preferences Apply preferences Enlarge text with Ctrl + Shift + > Enlarge text with Ctrl + Shift + >

Tips for Blind Students

Be wary of assumptions Blindness covers a range Blindness covers a range –Most blind folks have some sight –Many do see color Not all blind people read Braille Not all blind people read Braille –In fact, many CC students do not Not all students who read Braille read Nemeth math Braille Not all students who read Braille read Nemeth math Braille

Nemeth Braille Example Numbers Numbers – –# Symbols Symbols –x² + 2x + 2 = 10 –x^2"+2x+2.k #10

Use Meaningful Words Use concrete terms Use concrete terms Meaningless! Meaningless! –“Here is the equation.” –“We start with the equation and factor.” –“Set both factors equal to zero and solve to get the result.” Avoid Avoid –This, that, here, there, thing

In the following example, you would say everything! Don’t just write it; verbalize it! Say each step. Don’t just write it; verbalize it! Say each step. 6x 2 = 53x + 9 Subtract 53x and 9 from both sides 6x 2 – 53x – 9 = 0 Trinomial factoring gives us (6x + 1)(x – 9) = 0 Set both factors equal to zero 6x + 1 = 0 and x – 9 = 0 Solve each equation…etc.

Braille options Brailling math is expensive and time- consuming Brailling math is expensive and time- consuming –Algebra books can cost $25,000+ –Calculus books can cost $100,000+ Check books already in Braille and see if instructor is willing to use the problem sets Check books already in Braille and see if instructor is willing to use the problem sets Work with an instructor on “independent study” with a book already in Braille Work with an instructor on “independent study” with a book already in Braille

Lots of Math in Braille! Alternate Text Production Center (ATPC) Alternate Text Production Center (ATPC) – ATPC produces Braille and tactile graphics free for the CCCs ATPC produces Braille and tactile graphics free for the CCCs –Sells books to those outside CCC system Must have syllabus to begin project Must have syllabus to begin project –They braille only required chapters –The more advance notice, the better

Other Nemeth Resources American Printing House for the Blind hosts the Louis Database American Printing House for the Blind hosts the Louis Database –Anyone can search for Braille materials – Hadley School for the Blind Hadley School for the Blind –Free courses – 2_b_ae_and_hs_program.asp

Nemeth on Campus Scientific Notebook documents can be translated into Nemeth math Braille Scientific Notebook documents can be translated into Nemeth math Braille – –From other equation editors, save as LaTeX –Take into Scientific Notebook and save –Open with Duxbury Braille Translation Software (

Graphics Printer Tiger Embosser Tiger Embosser –Embosses graphics in raised dots ( –Creates Dots Plus math Braille

Graphing Requires tactile (distinguishable by feel) accommodations Requires tactile (distinguishable by feel) accommodations –Tactile diagrams –Manipulatives

Tactile Diagrams PIAF paper PIAF paper –“Pictures in a Flash” ( –Microcapsule paper –Can start from any computer file

Other Tactile Strategies Corkboard for graphics Corkboard for graphics –Glue thread to make a grid –Push-pins and string for graphing Magnet boards Magnet boards –Letters and numbers can be purchased –Symbols can be cut from magnetic sheets Be creative! Be creative!

Be Creative! Finding manipulatives Finding manipulatives –Many standard K-12 manipulatives will work Collage Collage –Puff paint –Cut-outs –Real objects

Commercially Available Wikki Stix Wikki Stix – Sewell Raised Line Drawing Kit Sewell Raised Line Drawing Kit – Non-slip abacus (Cranmer Abacus), Braille ruler, protractor, compass, Cubarithm Non-slip abacus (Cranmer Abacus), Braille ruler, protractor, compass, Cubarithm – MathWindow MathWindow –

Calculators Both software and hardware calculators are available Both software and hardware calculators are available

Scientific Calculator Orion TI-36X Orion TI-36X –Hand-held, talks –American Printing House for the Blind –MaxiAids

Other Calculators –Search on “calculator”

Software Calculator Audio Graphing Calculator Audio Graphing Calculator –Computer software, talks –ViewPlus Technology –Note: Graphs can be printed on Tiger Embosser or to PIAF paper

MathTrax Free from NASA Free from NASA – html

LaTeX for BVI LaTeX can be read with a screen reader LaTeX can be read with a screen reader LaTeX structure is similar to Nemeth LaTeX structure is similar to Nemeth TeXnic Center LaTeX Editor and the MiKTeX package associated with it TeXnic Center LaTeX Editor and the MiKTeX package associated with it

Math Online MathML and MathPlayer MathML and MathPlayer –Create in MathType, Scientific Notebook, etc. q1.xht q1.xht q1.xht q1.xht

MathJax Opens math equations in another window Opens math equations in another window –Can be read with a screen reader and-paste/ and-paste/ and-paste/ and-paste/

STEM for Blind

More Accessibility Info tutorials/math.shtml tutorials/math.shtml tutorials/math.shtml tutorials/math.shtml –Mathematics eText Research Center

More Information Gaeir Dietrich Gaeir Dietrich