There are some special considerations to be made when making scientific content accessible and the challenges can be daunting so here is a video that explains some of the issues.
“I Have a Blind Student in My Maths/Science Class, Should I panic? How to promote inclusion for blind students” Invited speaker session by Donal Fitzpatrick, Lecturer at the School of Computing at Dublin University, at Thriving in a colder and more challenging climate, the 2011 conference of the Association for Learning Technology (ALT). Session given in Leeds, UK, on Thursday 8 September 2011
Considerations
- Visual material needs to be accompanied by a verbal /audio descriptions – using multimedia materials can help all students
- Think about how equations can be read aloud by using MathML / Latex on the web as it displays correctly with zoom in feature and can be read aloud by text-to-speech engines or screen readers.
- Using Scientific Notebook as a scientific word processor plus mathematical computations with MathTalk enabled will work with Dragon Naturally speaking for those who need to dictate rather than use a keyboard to enter equations
- Microsoft Word works with Latex for equations
- Using the Wiris toolbar for Chemistry
Further Resources
- Making scientific content accessible using technology (download Word Document)
- Access2Science (USA): Topics in Practical Methods for STEM Accessibility
- Accessible Physics Concepts for Blind Students (USA): physics concepts in a format that blind students can read using accessibility tools.
- DO-IT (USA) Checklist for Making Computer Labs Accessible to Students with Disabilities
- W3C Math Tools – W3C wiki
- Enabling Math: Web, Word & PDF using MathML for the blind
- The Tools of a Blind Programmer – examples of what can be used to enable screen reader users to program.
- National Science Association of Teachers (USA) – books and resources to support disabled students.