Hi Richard,

The PDF file is a math text book. What format do you suggest? The blind
student does not know nemeth, cannot be asked to learn it at this point and
would be unwilling to purchase a program such as scientific notebook.

to elaborate my situation is as follows. My company is a provider of
courses that help students gain access to institutions of higher learning.
Some of the students who have enrolled for our courses are blind. My
employer wants to give them material in electronic format. The problem is
that most of the material is in pagemaker format. Pagemaker can export to
pdf and to HTML. In both cases, the math is a huge problem due to the way
fractions, equations and other symbols are written. These blind students do
not have money to spend on software. They just about manage to purchase a
screen reader and an OCR and in some cases a computer. There is no state
support so no funding of adaptive technology is possible. I need a solution
that uses commonly available software such as Internet explorer or perhaps
Microsoft Word.


Pranav

At 12:10 AM 9/18/2003, you wrote:
>The answer depends on the intent of the PDF file, the complexity of the
>equations and the braille skills of the user/student.  If the PDF file is
>for the instruction of a blind student in a math skill then the PDF file
>would not be a legal or appropriate presentation of the material under
>Section 504.  If the PDF file is for the instruction of a blind student,
>who knows Nemeth Code Braille, in some math skill then the PDF file would
>not be legal.
>If the PDF file is discussing another topic and just mentions a math
>process, then an alt tag would probably be appropriate.
>
>Richard Jones
>Assistant Director
>Disability Resources for Students
>Arizona State University, Main
>480-965-6045
>
>"Our first belief is that "disability" is a rational concept.  It does
>not reside within the individual.  Our second belief is that electronic
>technology can alter environments in such a manner as to allow people
>who have various functional deficits to operate without any disability
>what so ever."  Richard Reed, CCD Newsletter, Fall 1988, v (2), EDUCOM
>Software Initiative, 1989.
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Pranav Lal [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2003 2:42 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Math symbols in pdf files will tagging help
>
>
>                 Hi all,
>
>I have a pdf file with math symbols and images. Will tagging allow me to
>make those symbols and images accessible by providing descriptions that are
>readable by a screen reader?
>
>Pranav
>
>-----------------------
>September online courses on accessible information technology:
>Barrier-free Information Technology http://easi.cc/workshops/adaptit.htm
>Advanced Barrier-free Web Design http://easi.cc/workshops/advwbsyl.htm
>LD and Information Technology http://easi.cc/workshops/ld.htm
>EASI Home Page http://www.rit.edu/~easi
>CCourses and Clinics http://easi.cc/workshop.htm
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>
>-----------------------
>September online courses on accessible information technology:
>Barrier-free Information Technology http://easi.cc/workshops/adaptit.htm
>Advanced Barrier-free Web Design http://easi.cc/workshops/advwbsyl.htm
>LD and Information Technology http://easi.cc/workshops/ld.htm
>EASI Home Page http://www.rit.edu/~easi
>CCourses and Clinics http://easi.cc/workshop.htm
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-----------------------
September online courses on accessible information technology:
Barrier-free Information Technology http://easi.cc/workshops/adaptit.htm
Advanced Barrier-free Web Design http://easi.cc/workshops/advwbsyl.htm
LD and Information Technology http://easi.cc/workshops/ld.htm
EASI Home Page http://www.rit.edu/~easi
CCourses and Clinics http://easi.cc/workshop.htm
To sign off this list
send e-mail to [log in to unmask] saying
signoff easi