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The following resources concerning Math, text descriptions, and images have been gathered from a variety of information made publicly available on the WWW. The items presented here are intended for edification only.
From the W3C (http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/):
The W3C has proposed a new (2.0) version of their Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and also now host a MathML section (
http://www.w3.org/Math/) on their web site.
An online article by software company Design Science, "Universal Design for Math Learning: Bridging the Technology and Policy Divide" addresses MathML and the NIMAS.
A press release posted to the Design Science web site concerns MathML and textbook adoptions: Kentucky Promotes Use of MathML in Textbook Adoption
http://prime.jsc.nasa.gov/mathtrax/):
From the web site: "MathTrax is a graphing tool for middle school and high school students to graph equations, physics simulations, or plot data files. The graphs have descriptions and sound so [users] can hear and read about the graph. Blind and low vision users can access visual math data and graph or experiment with equations and data sets." MathTrax works with screen readers and standard computer speakers (or headphones).
From PennState (http://tlt.its.psu.edu/suggestions/accessibility/math.html):
Penn State's Creating Accessible Web Sites page provides guidelines for making equations and formulas accessible and includes a section on equations as text.
From the National Braille Association's Tape Recording Manual (http://www.w3.org/2000/08/nba-manual/Overview.html):
The W3C hosts a web page of excerpts from the NBA's Tape Recording Manual "to provide instruction and examples to authors who are trying to describe complex images." Information includes tips and guidelines for illustrations, diagrams, maps, figures, tables, charts, and graphs.
From WGBH/NCAM (http://ncam.wgbh.org/publications/adm/guideline_g.html):
The full Design Guidelines for Electronic Publications, Multimedia, and the Web may be accessed at the following link: http://ncam.wgbh.org/publications/adm/index.html. The Guidelines may also be downloaded in zip format at the same URL.
NIMAS Content Conversion Services page (several developers listed provide accessible math products and services): http://nimas.cast.org/about/resources/conversion_services
Access Computing's article "Why is accessible math important?" may also be of interest. It is available at the following link: http://www.washington.edu/accesscomputing/articles?3
The Education Resources Information Center's article "What Can I Use Tomorrow? Strategies for Accessible Math and Science Curriculum for Diverse Learners in Rural Schools" may be useful and is available in pdf format via the following link (the article's abstract is also posted): http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED463109&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED463109
The NIMAS Development and Technical Assistance Center, supported by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), works with states, TA systems, disability advocates, national associations, technology experts, publishers and content conversion houses to improve the timely delivery of high quality accessible educational materials to students with disabilities.The NIMAS Center was launched on October 1, 2004.The project officer for both the Development and TA Centers is Bonnie Jones, Ed.D. Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent the Department of Education's position or policy.