Math Accommodations
Issues
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Accessing books/problem sets
Doing homework/tests
Getting information in class
Tips for Deaf and Hard
of Hearing Students
Suggestions for
Instructors
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Face the students
– Do not talk facing the board
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Repeat student questions
– The deaf student may not have been looking at the
questioner
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Make sure you can be seen clearly
– Do not stand and talk in front of a bright window
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Use gestures
– Pointing to what you’re talking about is helpful
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Build in pauses
– Deaf students do a lot of multi-tasking, allow some pauses
Tips for Students with
Upper Limb Impairments
Software
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Math equation programs allow
keyboard entry
– Scientific Notebook
– MathType (plug-in for Word)
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MathTalk allows voice entry
– Requires MathTalk, Dragon
NaturallySpeaking and Scientific
Notebook (all three!)
MathTalk
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http://www.mathtalk.com/ OR
http://metroplexvoice.com/
Books On-screen
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Scan to PDF
Read visually on-screen (no TTS)
Foot pedal mouse
Use Dragon to advance pages onscreen
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Remove spine and rebind to lay flat
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Use hardware page-turning systems
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Tips for LD Students
Verbalize
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Instructor side
– Concrete, specific descriptions
– Verbalize equations and operations
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Student side
– Verbalize the process
– Have students explain patterns they see
Strategies
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Spread one semester courses over two
Teach strategies, not just algorithms
Tactile graphs
Manipulatives
Color highlighting
Draw pictures
Self-help
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Work in quiet without clutter
Videotape students studying
– Students may be totally unaware of what
they are doing while studying—
videotaping provides feedback
Word Problems
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Learn key words
–
–
–
–
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“and,” “sum,” “increased” mean add
“take away,” “difference,” “less” mean subtract
“of,” “times” means multiply
“per,” “out of,” “ratio of,” “quotient” mean divide
Highlight what is important
– Look for key words
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List information
Draw pictures
Auditory Math
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Math books in MathML
– Create in MathType or Scientific Notebook
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MathPlayer reads and highlights
– Free download from Design Science
– http://www.dessci.com/

Read&Write Gold, Dolphin Tutor, and WYNN
work with MathPlayer
– Kurzweil only works from the Web interface.
Please Note
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Many LD students do not find hearing
problem sets helpful
HOWEVER, many LD students find
hearing word problems extremely
helpful!
Online for LD*
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ModuMath Tutorials
– Video tutorials for basic math and algebra
– http://www.modumath.org/
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ALEKS
– Assessment and learning
– http://www.aleks.com/highered/math/
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Khan Academy (videos)
– http://www.khanacademy.org/
* Please note: Although helpful, these programs not fully accessible—
do not require them for all students.
MuchoMath
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Professor Larry Perez at
Saddleback College
– lperez@saddleback.edu
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You Tube math videos
– www.saddleback.edu/faculty/lperez/
Learning Styles for Math
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Christine Tunstall at Mt. SAC
– Instructional Specialist in ABI
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Resources to help students learn how
to learn math
http://instruction.mtsac.edu/ctunstall/
http://instruction.mtsac.edu/ctunstall/
dsps_33/class_handouts.html
Tips for Low Vision
Students
Software for Writing
Math
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Keyboard entry
– Scientific Notebook
– MathType
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Equations can be enlarged
Voices what is written
– Chatty Infty
– http://www.inftyreader.org/
Creating Large Print
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Start with PDF
Crop pages
Print to fit page (11 in. x 17 in.)
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Can tile pages
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– Portion of page enlarged to full sheet
Enlarging Math in Word
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Math equations created with
MathType plug-in
– http://www.dessci.com/en/products/
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Create a “Preferences” file
– Can save multiple preference files
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Apply preferences
Enlarge text with Ctrl + Shift + >
Tips for Blind Students
Be wary of assumptions
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Blindness covers a range
– Most blind folks have some sight
– Many do see color
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Not all blind people read Braille
– In fact, many CC students do not
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Not all students who read Braille read
Nemeth math Braille
Nemeth Braille Example
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Numbers
– 1234567890
–#1234567890
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Symbols
– x² + 2x + 2 = 10
– x^2"+2x+2 .k #10
Use Meaningful Words
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Use concrete terms
Meaningless!
– “Here is the equation.”
– “We start with the equation and factor.”
– “Set both factors equal to zero and solve
to get the result.”
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Avoid
– This, that, here, there, thing
In the following example,
you would say everything!
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Don’t just write it; verbalize it! Say each step.
6x2 = 53x + 9
Subtract 53x and 9 from both sides
6x2 – 53x – 9 = 0
Trinomial factoring gives us
(6x + 1)(x – 9) = 0
Set both factors equal to zero
6x + 1 = 0 and x – 9 = 0
Solve each equation…etc.
Braille options
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Brailling math is expensive and timeconsuming
– Algebra books can cost $25,000+
– Calculus books can cost $100,000+
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Check books already in Braille and see if
instructor is willing to use the problem sets
Work with an instructor on “independent
study” with a book already in Braille
Lots of Math in Braille!
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Alternate Text Production Center (ATPC)
– www.atpc.net
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ATPC produces Braille and tactile graphics
free for the CCCs
– Sells books to those outside CCC system
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Must have syllabus to begin project
– They braille only required chapters
– The more advance notice, the better
Other Nemeth Resources
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American Printing House for the Blind
hosts the Louis Database
– Anyone can search for Braille materials
– www.aph.org
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Hadley School for the Blind
– Free courses
– www.hadley-school.org/Web_Site/
2_b_ae_and_hs_program.asp
Nemeth on Campus
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Scientific Notebook documents can be
translated into Nemeth math Braille
– www.mackichan.com
– From other equation editors, save as
LaTeX
– Take into Scientific Notebook and save
– Open with Duxbury Braille Translation
Software (www.duxsys.com)
Nemeth Back Translation
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A student’s work in Nemeth will have
to be translated into a printable format
For hard-copy work, student will have
to read to a scribe
With an electronic braille notetaker,
can use Nemetex
– Nemeth to LaTeX conversion
– http://www.accessisoft.com/nemetex.htm
Graphics Printer
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Tiger Embosser
– Embosses graphics in raised dots
(www.viewplus.com)
– Creates Dots Plus math Braille
Graphing
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Requires tactile (distinguishable by
feel) accommodations
– Tactile diagrams
– Manipulatives
Tactile Diagrams
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PIAF paper
– “Pictures in a Flash” (www.optelec.com)
– Microcapsule paper
– Can start from any computer file
Other Tactile Strategies
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Corkboard for graphics
– Glue thread to make a grid
– Push-pins and string for graphing
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Magnet boards
– Letters and numbers can be purchased
– Symbols can be cut from magnetic sheets
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Be creative!
Be Creative!
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Finding manipulatives
– Many standard K-12 manipulatives will
work
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Collage
– Puff paint
– Cut-outs
– Real objects
Commercially Available
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Wikki Stix
– www.wikkistix.com
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Sewell Raised Line Drawing Kit
– www.maxiaids.com
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Non-slip abacus (Cranmer Abacus) , Braille
ruler, protractor, compass, Cubarithm
– www.aph.org
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MathWindow
– www.mathwindow.com
Calculators
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Both software and hardware
calculators are available
Scientific Calculator
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Orion TI-36X
– Hand-held, talks
– American Printing House for the Blind
www.aph.org
– MaxiAids
www.maxiaids.com
Other Calculators
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www.maxiaids.com
– Search on “calculator”
Software Calculator
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Audio Graphing Calculator
– Computer software, talks
– ViewPlus Technology www.viewplus.com
– Note: Graphs can be printed on Tiger
Embosser or to PIAF paper
MathTrax
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Free from NASA
– http://learn.arc.nasa.gov/mathtrax/index.
html
LaTeX for BVI
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LaTeX can be read with a screen
reader
LaTeX structure is similar to Nemeth
TeXnic Center LaTeX Editor and the
MiKTeX package associated with it
http://www.texniccenter.org/
http://miktex.org/
MathType 6.9 and LaTeX
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MathType equations in Word can be
toggled between LaTeX and display
Preferences > Workspace Preferences
> "Allow Tex language entry from
keyboard"
Toggle TeX = alt + \
Tech (and TeX) Skills
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Colorado Center for the Blind
– Littleton, CO
– http://coloradocenterfortheblind.org/
– 303-778-1130
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Summer classes for adults on gaining
independence skills
Technology classes
Math Online
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MathML and MathPlayer
– Create in MathType, Scientific Notebook,
etc.

http://www.htctu.net/math/mathtypee
q1.xht
Graphical Calculus
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http://163.238.35.147/CalculusForThe
Blind/
MathJax
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Opens math equations in another
window
– Can be read with a screen reader
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www.mathjax.org
http://www.mathjax.org/demos/copyand-paste/
STEM for Blind
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http://www.blindscience.org/
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https://nfb.org/ncbys-flyer
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http://accessiblemath.dessci.com/
More Accessibility Info
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http://www.calstate.edu/accessibility/
tutorials/math.shtml
More Information
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Gaeir Dietrich
gdietrich@htctu.net
408-996-6047