MAVIS: Mathematics Accessible to Visually Impaired Students

   Proposal # HRD-98-00209
   Institution: New Mexico State University
   Arthur Karshmer, Principal Investigator

  ABSTRACT

   Mathematics Accessible to Visually Impaired Students (MAVIS) is an
   access project dedicated to ensuring that communication between
   mathematics faculty and their blind students is clear and meaningful.
   Two major problems exist when attempting to establish this
   communication. First, faculty cannot easily make their mathematics and
   science instructional and assessment materials accessible to these
   students. Second, blind students cannot independently communicate
   their course work with faculty in print, and few teachers will be
   proficient in Braille codes. The goal of the proposed research is to
   give better access to visually impaired students to the educational
   domains of science, engineering, mathematics and technology. The
   objectives of the MAVIS project are to:

   o ensure that tools and channels are available to instructors
   nationwide so that they may be able to give their students quality
   materials at the same time as their sighted peers,

   o Ensure that tools are available to visually impaired students so
   they can produce quality standard print technical documents for their
   instructors,

   o Ensure that in-class electronic devices are accessible,

   o Ensure that all of the above are not only usable, but also are
   intuitive to learn.

   MAVIS proposes to support and conduct research and development
   projects in the following areas: (1) LaTex to Nemeth code translation
   filter, (2) Back-translation filter, (3) Math screen readers and
   equation browsers, and (4) Testing and evaluation of an accessible
   graphing calculator and other non-MAVIS access technology. MAVIS will
   also use its Braille and tactile image production lab for science,
   mathematics, Engineering, and technology (SMET) courses offered at New
   Mexico State University.

   Arthur I. Karshmer, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
   Department of Computer Science
   New Mexico State University
   Las Cruces, NM 88003
   Tel: 505-646-3724
   E-mail: [log in to unmask]