Re: Accessible Math Problems

Hi Christina,

Thanks for bringing this question to this list.

I work with a non-profit that creates interactive visual simulations for 
learning science and math. The design team that is working on the 
re-design of our Graphing Quadratics simulation recently experimented 
with MathJax (https://www.mathjax.org/), and it showed great promise.

Perhaps you can explore possibilities there, and perhaps there are other 
people on this list that have direct experience with MathJax, or other 
solutions for creating accessible math.

Best,

Taliesin

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

PhET Interactive Simulations

phet.colorado.edu

On 2025-09-26 07:49, Houck, Christina wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
> I work for a cyber school and we are working hard to make sure all of 
> our instructional materials are accessible. The one area we are really 
> struggling with is math materials. Our school uses Schoology as our 
> LMS on a Mac. Since we use Mac we often use the Apple Native Apps 
> (Pages, Numbers, and Keynote). I am aware that they are not the 
> most accessible programs to use.
>
> We have a middle school teacher that likes to do escape room 
> style activities using tables in a Numbers file. The tables are 
> accessible, but the issue is equations. If we type equations into a 
> cell (like in lock #2) Voiceover will read it, but reads it 
> incorrectly. Since it is text it does allow students to highlight the 
> text and use spoken content to have it read aloud, which is helpful 
> for students who need that. If we use the insert equation option, it 
> turns the equation into an image and we cannot place that in a cell to 
> be read inside the table. Our workaround to that was to put the 
> equations outside the table (like in lock #1). Turning the equation 
> into an image also takes away the ability for students to have it read 
> to them using the spoken content tool. So, which of these options is 
> more accessible? Or is there a better method to make sure math 
> equations are accessible?
>
> I should note that if we added equations to our LMS in a quiz, it does 
> the same thing and turns them into images, so that isn;t a great fix. 
> Additionally, these activities are super popular and the completion 
> rate by students is high, so we are hesitant to get rid of them 
> completely. We are open to other programs that would help us ensure 
> math equations are accessible.
>
>
> Screenshot 2025-09-26 at 7.40.20 AM.png
> Thank you!
> Christina
> -- 
> Christina Houck
> *21st Century Cyber Charter School* <http://21cccs.org/>
> Special Education Content Developer
> *Direct*: (610) 514-6216 • *Main*: (484) 875-5400
>
> Confidentiality Notice
> This email, including any attachments and files submitted with it, are 
> for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) to whom this email is 
> addressed and may contain legally privileged and/or confidential 
> information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution 
> is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please be 
> advised that you have received this email in error, and please contact 
> the sender by reply email and destroy all copies (including all 
> electronic and hard copies) of the original message. If the reader of 
> this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified 
> that any disclosure, dissemination, distribution or copying of this 
> communication or its contents is strictly prohibited.