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Readable Content – Equations

Introduction

Readable content is text that can be easily understood and processed by all users, including those with disabilities. It involves careful consideration of typography, color, layout, and formatting to ensure information is accessible to people with various visual, cognitive, and reading abilities.

Good, readable content reduces cognitive load, improves comprehension, and ensures that everyone can access and understand your information regardless of their abilities or the assistive technologies they use.

In this section, our main topic is Equations.

How Readable Content Helps with Accessibility?

Readable content directly supports accessibility by 1) supporting users with visual Impairments, 2) assisting cognitive accessibility, 3) improving screen reader experience, 4) reducing eye strain, and 5) enhancing mobile accessibility.

  1. Supporting Users with Visual Impairments: Clear typography and proper contrast help users with low vision, color blindness, or other visual disabilities read content more easily.
  2. Assisting Cognitive Accessibility: Simple, well-structured content helps users with dyslexia, ADHD, autism, or other cognitive differences process information more effectively.
  3. Improving Screen Reader Experience: Properly formatted content with clear headings, lists, and link text helps screen reader users navigate and understand content efficiently.
  4. Reducing Eye Strain: Good typography and color choices benefit everyone, including users who experience fatigue or have temporary vision issues.
  5. Enhancing Mobile Accessibility: Readable content is especially important on smaller screens, where text clarity becomes even more critical.

Equations

About Equations

Mathematical equations are often used in conjunction with science, engineering, and math classes. Many content editors have an equation editor tool, but many of these tools do not produce accessible equations. Adding an image of an equation is also not accessible to assistive technology, as it cannot decipher the image.

Equations in PDFs

Math and science equations, formulas, and notations are not screen reader accessible in a PDF. A best practice is always saving the source file from which you generated the PDF. Source files can be provided to Disability Resources and Services (DRS) if an accommodation is needed.

How to Create Accessible Equations?

Canvas

Use the Insert Math Equation icon Square root of x symbol. in the Rich Content Editor to create and insert your equation. Review the help guide How Do I Use the Math Editor in the Rich Content Editor? for instructions on using the Math Editor in Canvas.

Duration 6:00 | Click the CC icon to display closed captions.

Word and PowerPoint

MS Word or PowerPoint has a native equation editor that you can use when creating an equation. Even though they have the native equation editor, they are not very compatible with screen readers. MathType is an Add-in that can be used for free for 30 days. You can add it to MS and PowerPoint by going to the Add-ins button, and when you add it, it will ask you to log in. Please use your MEID@maricopa.edu account to add it. Please see a video from Pima Community College showing the difference in how screen readers interpret MS Word and MathType equations.

If you provide your file in a PDF or HTML format, be sure to maintain a copy in the original Word format. DRS will ask for a copy of the Word file if there is an accommodation.

Duration 2:09 | Click the CC icon to display closed captions.

Google Docs

Google Docs has an equation toolbar. Google’s Mathematical Equations support document explains how to insert an equation, show or hide the equations toolbar, and use keyboard equation insertion shortcuts.

Duration 4:04 | Click the CC icon to display closed captions.

Summary

Creating readable content is one of the most impactful ways to improve accessibility for all users. This guide covered the essential elements that make content accessible: creating accessible equations. By implementing these practices, you create content that works for users with visual impairments, cognitive differences, and various assistive technologies, while also improving the experience for all users. Remember that accessible design is universal design. When you make content more readable for users with disabilities, you make it better for everyone.

Resources

Information on this page was adapted from the Canvas course titled Accessible Instruction at MCCCD, https://learn.maricopa.edu/enroll/ABKJPX.

License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

MCCCD Accessibility Micro Developments Copyright © by Carla Ghanem; Deborah Baker; Rob Morales; and Stephanie Williams is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.