Make Your Course Accessible

Math Accessibility Guide

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What is Accessible Math?

Accessible math is mathematical content that can be understood and navigated by everyone, especially those who use assistive technologies (AT) like screen readers and braille displays. The key is to convey the meaning and structure of the math, not just its visual appearance. A fully accessible equation is more than a static image; it is a structured data set that AT can interpret. This structured data set allows users to move freely through the equation, navigating from a numerator to a denominator, exploring subscripts, or jumping between different sides of an equal sign on an equation, for instance.

The two main formats that enable accessible math are MathML and UnicodeMath.

MathML and UnicodeMath

MathML (Mathematical Markup Language) is an XML-based format that explicitly defines the logical structure of an equation. It uses tags like <mfrac> for a fraction or <msup> for a superscript, providing a clear blueprint for AT to read and interpret the math.

UnicodeMath is a plain-text format used primarily in Microsoft's core authoring apps, including Word, OneNote, and PowerPoint. It's entered directly within the equation editor, which you can open with the shortcut Alt + = on a PC or CTRL + = on Macs. As you type, the editor automatically converts the syntax into a structured equation object. For example, typing x^2 and a space automatically formats the "2" as a superscript. The editor also supports pasting in LaTeX, contains a graphical toolbar for those who prefer to "hunt and peck," and a conversion tool that allows users to convert back and forth between UnicodeMath and LaTeX.

Most importantly, in both MathML and UnicodeMath, the structured data allows AT users to:

  • navigate freely through the equation
  • hear the equation spoken using AT like screen readers and related text-to-speech tools
  • translate the content into other formats like braille

EquatIO

University of Illinois has a campus-wide license for EquatIO, a tool for converting multiple math input formats (speech, handwriting, screenshots of math images, and LaTeX) into multiple accessible output formats. EquatIO is available to U of I faculty, staff, and students for free (see the EquatIO Download page on the U of I Webstore). Here is a quick video demonstration of EquatIO's screenshot tool that shows how the tool allows users to select images of equations and output the equations in different formats like MathML (the standard for accessible math), HTML with alt text for the math, and LaTeX. Note: this video has no sound.

Major Workflows

In the context of accessible math workflows, much depends upon where you are incorporating the math. Here are some of the key workflows and the recommended strategies, resources and tools for achieving accessible math in each of these specific environments.

Canvas LMS

Recommendation: Use the built-in Equation Editor which supports LaTeX syntax. When the page loads, MathJax converts it to accessible MathML which can also be rendered as Nemeth Braille for users with braille displays.

Tools and Resources

Microsoft Applications (Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, Excel)

Recommendation: Use the built-in Equation Editor, which uses UnicodeMath. It can also accept LaTeX input. Third-party tools like MathType can also be used, which can output to multiple formats including LaTeX, MathML, and UnicodeMath.

Tools and Resources

Jupyter Notebook

Recommendation: Use LaTeX syntax in the markdown cells. The Jupyter Notebook primarily uses markdown for text formatting, but for math it uses LaTeX (which is then rendered by MathJax). Enclose inline math with single dollar signs ($E=mc^2$) and display math with double dollar signs ($$x = ...$$). MathJax handles the rendering by generating both a visible graphic version of the equation (e.g., an .svg file) and a hidden MathML version of the equation embedded in the document for screen readers.

Pandoc is an incredibly useful tool, often called a "universal document converter." In the context of Jupyter Notebooks, it allows you to convert a notebook file (.ipynb) into many other formats.

Tools and Resources

HTML Web Page

Recommendation: Use MathML or a JavaScript rendering library like MathJax with LaTeX. MathML is an XML-based format that explicitly defines the logical structure of an equation and can also be rendered as Nemeth Braille. MathJax converts LaTeX into accessible MathML.

Tools and Resources

Other Learning Management Systems

Recommendation: Most modern LMSs have a built-in equation editor that supports LaTeX. When in doubt, always default to LaTeX and check the system's documentation for its specific rendering engine (e.g., MathJax, KaTeX). Third-party plugins like EquatIO may also be available.

Coursera, for instance, is integrated with the EquatIO Chrome browser extension, allowing users to add math and science formulas to Coursera pages by typing, handwriting, or using speech-to-text features within the EquatIO toolbar. You can use the EquatIO toolbar after clicking the "Math" button in the Coursera text editor to create and insert your math expressions directly into the course content.

Tools and Resources

Academic Journals and Publishing

Recommendation: LaTeX is the universal standard for academic publishing. It provides precise control over equation formatting and is required by most journals. To get your equations from other tools into LaTeX, use a conversion tool.

Tools and Resources

PDF Document

Creating accessible math in PDF documents is generally not recommended.

Recommendation: For simple, inline equations (e.g., a + b = c), you can use regular text in the PDF. However, direct interactive MathML within PDFs, where users can select and navigate parts of an equation like in a web browser, is not natively supported by the PDF standard.

Recommendation: For more complex equations, you can convert to a structured format like HTML or provide a separate accessible document containing the MathML (.mml) file. If you intend to link to a separate MathML file, you can create a standard PDF link associated with the image of the equation in the PDF where the link's action opens the attached MathML file.

Attaching and Linking to an Embedded MathML (.mml) File:

  1. In Adobe Acrobat, use the "Attach File" function under the "Edit" Tools. Then select "More" and then "Attach File".
  2. Once the file is attached, save the PDF, and the attachment will be embedded in the PDF file.
  3. From there, you can create a link to the attached .mml file by using the Acrobat "Edit" Tools, selecting "Link," and then choosing "Add or Edit Link".
  4. Your cursor will change to a cross-hair. Click and drag a rectangle over the image of the equation you want to make clickable.
  5. In the "Create Link" dialog box that appears, set the link's appearance to "Invisible Rectangle" under "Link Type" so the link is not visually disruptive.
  6. Under "Link Action," select the "Go to a page view" option. This action allows you to link to other parts of the document, including attachments. Click Next
  7. Open the Attachments panel by clicking "View", then "Show/Hide", "Side panels", "Attachments" and double-click the MathMl file you just attached.
  8. With the attached file now open, click the "Set Link" button. This finalizes the link, and you can now test it with the Hand tool.

 

Tools and Resources