Digital Accessibility

Microsoft Word

• Ensure your document is properly structured, using headings and subheadings to organise content.
• Use the Equation Editor in Word to add all mathematical text (including a single x). Go to Insert, Equation in the desktop app to do this.
• Do not use Insert, or Symbol to add mathematical text in Word
• Do not write superscripts, subscripts, fractions, etc. using font or style changes and standard keyboard input alone
• Do not use an image of an equation
• Alternative text (using informative text) should be added to all images and diagrams
• Use the Accessibility Checker to check the accessibility of your Word document

LaTex

The mathematical content in PDF files compiled from LaTex cannot be read by screen readers. In order to make these accessible, the LaTex should be compiled as HTML.

• Use the \section{} commands to create a structured document. This helps create a navigable document which is compatible with screen readers.
• Include \renewcommand{\familydefault}{\sfdefault} in the preamble to change the font family to sans serif
• For longer PDF files, consider adding a table of contents before producing the HTML file. In general, several smaller files are preferable

Pandoc is a command line tool and can be used to convert simple LaTeX to HTML with MathJax.

Compiling LaTeX to html with Pandoc has some guidance on how to compile your TeX file into HTML.

RMarkdown/Quatro

An alternative to writing documents in LaTex is to write them in RMarkdown/Quarto. This produces HTML with the maths equations rendered using MathJax, which is accessible and works well with assistive technologies.

The BrailleR package can create descriptions of graphs automatically. 

HTML

HTML files should be uploaded to Moodle (as a file) and a link made available to students next to the original PDF file. Under Appearance in Settings, choose Open.  

To check that the mathematics is rendered using MathJax in an HTML file, right-click on the equation. The options should include ‘About MathJax’ and ‘MathJax Help.’

Click on 'Accessibility' sub-menu within the MathJax menu and the check 'Activate'.

Diagrams

Use alternative text to describe complex images and diagrams.

In-depth image description guidelines from the Diagram Centre includes detailed guidance for maths, chemistry, graphs, relational and text-only images.

Desmos is an online screen reader-accessible graphing calculator which can also produce tactile diagrams.

• Accessibility features in the Desmos graphing calculator