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360 Degrees – Approaching Accessibility in Chemistry & Math From All Sides (BYOD Session)

Handouts

Presented at 10:30am in Cotton Creek II on Monday, November 12, 2018.

#17644

Speaker(s)

  • Wink Harner, Assistive Technology Consultant, The Foreign Type
  • Susan Kelmer, Alternate Format Access Coordinator, University of Colorado Boulder

Session Details

  • Length of Session: 2-day
  • Format: Bring-your-own Device Workshop: (Windows based) laptops with ability to download demo versions of various software applications. The software used is all geared to MS Windows Based equipment.
  • Expertise Level: Intermediate
  • Type of session: Pre-conference

Summary

Two presenters who are experts in alt-text conversion in STEM subjects, teach key steps to convert text in chemistry and math for both sighted (text-to-speech) users and non-sighted or LV users (screen reader) and Braille/tactile users. Using a broad base of specific assistive technologies for chemistry & math conversion.

Abstract

360 Degrees workshop focuses on presenting alternative text remediation in math, physics, and chemistry. Basic introduction will show participants how to set up an alternative textbook workstation, locate publisher contacts, and create working file system for textbooks. Participants will learn about using OmniPage OCR with PDF files to produce working .txt files, how to use Microsoft Word and MathType to remediate math, chemistry, and physics formulas and equations, how to use the CAT (Central Access Toolbar) tool to proof & edit math, chemistry & physics, how to create and save MathType files for export to Nemeth Braille, LaTeX, JAWS and NVDA screen reader files, as well as MS Word with MathType files for use with Central Access Reader text to speech. Participants will have an opportunity to use the demo software (hopefully they have downloaded prior to the workshop) to try out working with several examples (provided) to see how the steps of remediation work for different "save as" or "export" options.

Presenter will sends links for the software download demo versions advance of the session directly to the participants.

Keypoints

  1. Key steps to create alt-text format math for sighted (TTS) and non-sighted/LV (JAWS, Braille, Tactile)
  2. Key steps to create alt-text format chemistry for sighted (TTS) and non-sighted/LV (JAWS, Braille, Tactile)
  3. Learn to identify key programs needed to convert math and chemistry, which to use for B/LV & Sighted users.

Disability Areas

Cognitive/Learning, Mobility, Vision

Topic Areas

Alternate Format, Assistive Technology, Uncategorized

Speaker Bio(s)

Wink Harner

Wink Harner - Has been an active member of ATHEN for 25 years and served for nearly a decade on the ATHEN Executive Board as Member-At-Large. Wink was invited as the keynote speaker for the 2019 Texas AHEAD conference. She is the former director of disability services at Mesa Community College in Arizona, the Adaptive Technology Specialist for the DR office at Southern Oregon University. She currently works in freelance adaptive technology consulting and provides specialized alternative text conversions in math, sciences and foreign languages. She has been a professor of multiple languages for more than 25 years having completed her doctoral studies in Spanish, Portuguese, & French. Since August 2016, Wink developed and taught the adaptive technology in higher education core course for CUNY's Masters of Science in Disability Studies Program. In 2023 she developed a course in professional development for AHEAD in adaptive technology in higher education. She has presented at adaptive technology conferences for decades. For fun, Wink plays trombone in 2 symphonic wind bands and a jazz band, as well as performing as a professional storyteller with the Portland Storytellers Guild.

Susan Kelmer

Susan Kelmer is the Alternate Format Access Coordinator for Disability Services at the University of Colorado Boulder. She has worked for more than fifteen years to assist students with print disabilities in accessing print materials of all kinds. She has presented multiple sessions at the Accessing Higher Ground Conference and the COLTT conference over the last 12 years. She is currently the Co-Chair of the Access Technologists Higher Education Subcommittee (ATHES) of the Colorado-Wyoming Consortium of Support Programs for Students with Disabilities, and is currently an active member and past secretary of the Access Technologists Higher Education Network (ATHEN).

Handout(s)