1. Paths to Creating Accessible Math
Darrin Evans
Director Virtual Learning Community Professional Development Center

2. Learning Outcomes
Participants will learn how to use MathType to create accessible math.
Participants will understand the capabilities of the Central Access Reader.
Participants will come away with workflows and strategies to create accessible math.
Participants will understand how to convert LaTeX to MathML using MathType

3. Disclaimer #1
Not covered in this presentation is the process of retrofitting math content that has previously been created.
The math we will discuss will be typed in MathType, saved, and Proof-listened in CENTRAL ACCESS READER.

4. Disclaimer #2
Creating Accessible Math is simple. It, however, is not quick, easy, or painless and there is a learning curve.
It is worth every second of your time to learn MathType. The result will be the ability to create math content One Time in word that is accessible to any student.

5. Thank You Krista Greer-University of Washington
John Hardee-Davidson Community College
Deidre Wood-Coastal Carolina Community College
Dr. Volker Sorge-Progressive Accessibility Solutions
Tammy Sullivan-A-B Tech
Dr. Ken Jewell-Wake Tech
Amy Brown-Guilford Tech
Karen McPhaul-Durham Tech

6. Seven things You need to Know

7. Accessibility
“Accessible means that individuals with disabilities are able to independently acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services within the same timeframe as individuals without disabilities, with substantially equivalent ease of use.”
University of Montana Office of Civil Rights settlement agreement, 2012

8. Accommodation Vs Accessibility
Note taker
Extra time on a test
Sign language interpreter
Braille textbooks
Assistive technology (such as a screen magnifier)
Accessibility
Properly structured
Text alternatives for images and multimedia
Proper color contrast
Proper hyperlinks

9. Text-to-Speech
Text to speech, abbreviated as TTS, is a form of speech synthesis that converts text into spoken voice output. Text to speech systems were first developed to aid the visually impaired by offering a computer-generated spoken voice that would "read" text to the user.
Webopedia definition

10. Screen Reader
A screen reader is a software application that enables people with severe visual impairments to use a computer. Screen readers work closely with the computer's Operating System (OS) to provide information about icons, menus, dialogue boxes, files and folders.
Humanising Technology Blog

11. Daisy
DAISY stands for Digital Accessible Information SYstem and is a standard for producing accessible and navigable multimedia documents. This includes Digital Talking Books, digital text books, and synchronized audio/text books. DAISY is a globally recognized standard for accessible content and is part of NIMAS (National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard).

12. lATEx
LaTeX, which is pronounced «Lah-tech» or «Lay-tech» is a document preparation system for high-quality typesetting. It includes features designed for the production of technical and scientific documentation. LaTeX is the de facto standard for the communication and publication of scientific documents.
LaTex Project.org

13. MathML
MathML is an accessible markup language and can be rendered in a number of ways, offering a variety of accessibility options. MathML can be rendered visually, aurally, or via braille. MathML is the best option for creating accessible math content.

14. Displaying mathml
MathML can be displayed in these browsers without add-ins or plug-ins:
Firefox
Safari
Opera
There is currently no native support for displaying MathML in Chrome. MathML can be displayed in Chrome using the MathJax extension which adds a layer of complexity. Firefox and Safari give the most seamless experience when viewing MathML.

15. Creating MathML
To display a-b in MathML you would need to write the following code:
<mrow>
<apply>
<minus/>
<ci>a</ci>
</apply>
</mrow>

16. MathType Publisher: Design Science, http://www.dessci.com/
$97 ($57 Academic)
Full-featured Equation Editor
Integration with common authoring environments
Content can be converted to accessible formats

17. Using MathType an Overview
Working with MathType in MS Word
Configuring MathType Preferences
Output Options for Publishing
Questions & Demo

18. Inserting Equations in MS Word
Using the MathType Toolbar, choose either “Inline Equation”, “Display Equation”, or “Right- numbered” from the “Insert Equations” section.

19. The Equation Editor

20. Working in MathType
Working in MathType involves a variety of mouse- driven actions and keyboard commands. Navigate within expressions by using the LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys.

21. Getting Back to Word
You can use multiple ways to leave the MathType Equation Editor:
CTRL + S Saves the equation and updates your document
You can also choose the File Command and Update Document

22. MathType Keyboard Commands
To configure the keyboard commands for MathType, go to: Preferences\Customize Keyboard

23. The Color of Math
To change the color of currently selected content: Format\Color To define the default color for all FUTURE expressions: Format\Color\Edit Color Menu

24. MathType to MathML Select “Publish to MathPage”
Select The Following Option:
XHTML + MathML – (Firefox & NVDA)

25. MathPage Options

26. Things to Do and Not Do with Mathtype
Avoid empty MathType entries at all costs. If you accidently create an empty entry use the backspace key to locate and delete it.
Use only one line of text within each MathType entry.
NEVER use spaces in MathType
Memorize the keyboard shortcuts

27. Table Talk

28. LaTex and MathType [1 of 2]
LaTeX is a plain text document language that many math instructors use, but unfortunately is not currently supported by screenreader technology. It is, however, fairly simple to convert LaTex into MathML:
1. In MathType in the main equation editor copy a piece of LaTeX code such as:
m &= \frac{m_0}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}} or
x = \frac{ { - b \pm \sqrt {b^2 - 4ac} } } { {2a} }
2. The equation should appear fully formatted you should only have to make a few minor adjustments as needed.

29. LaTex and MathType [2 of 2]
You can also type TeX/LaTeX directly into Word and format your equations as MathType equations with a simple step.
You can toggle between TeX/LaTeX and MathType equations [you just can’t do that on a mac] this is a huge shortcut if you know LaTeX. An example is we can type in:
$\sqrt9$
Then we simply toggle to TeX/LaTeX to display the square root of 9.

30. What is central Access reader
Central Access Reader is a free screen reader developed at Central Washington University that is particularly good at reading math.

31. Using The Central Access Reader

32. Load Your Document into car
You can load your document into CAR by pressing the white plus sign or by using the keyboard shortcut of ctrl + O for Windows or command + O for Mac.

33. Open Speech settings
Open “Speech Settings.”

34. Select math discipline
Select the math discipline of your document.

35. Proof-Listen to your document
Click on the white play button under the + sign to proof-listen to your document. You can make corrections based on the accuracy of the math that you hear.

36. Output to Mp3
Click on the MP3 icon to save the document as an audio file.

37. Final Mp3 Output
Select “Save All” to save the document in MP3 format.

38. Saving the MP3
You can now save the MP3 file on your computer in any location you choose.

39. Jaws and Mathml
The JAWS screen reader is the industry standard; however JAWS does a poor job of interpreting MathML. It is recommended that students use the NVDA screen reader for MathML.

40. Final Accessible Output
You can not use NVDA without the free MathPlayer Plug-In

41. Mathplayer MathPlayer is a free download from Design Science
To download MathPlayer visit the Design Science website[opens in a new window]
Design Science MathPlayer works with NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA) screen reader to speak and Braille math content in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Firefox, and Opera. For this to work, you also need to download NVDA. Note: Apple’s Voiceover handles MathML natively on the Mac OS Platform.

42. Mathplayer
Open the MathPlayer Tab on the Word Ribbon and then choose settings.

43. Configuring mathplayer
Go to MathPlayer Tab on MS Word ribbon
Go to Settings
On Speech Tab, select the Blindness Radio Button
Then configure the settings this way:
Language: English
Speech Amount: Full
Speech Style: Clear Speak
Subject Area: General
Speech for Chemical Formulas: Spell it Out

44. MathPlayer configuration

45. NVDA Tutorial
Visit the American Foundation for the Blind [AFB] to view this NVDA tutorial[opens in a new window]
Direct Link:

46. Parting Thought
“The best course content is not made accessible, it is born accessible.”

47. References and resources
To learn more about Daisy visit the Daisy Consortium[new window]
Direct Link:
Visit CWU to download the free Central Access Reader[new window]
Direct Link:
Visit the diagram center to learn more about accessible math[new window]
Direct Link:
To learn more about the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standards visit AEM[new window]
Direct Link: materials-accessibility-standard-nimas.html#.WNPPYme1scU

48. Questions and Demo