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The Accessible Virtual Campus

Science & Math

Science and Math building.

Persons with disabilities are under-represented in science, mathematics, engineering and technology professions. Methods and technology exist to make this content accessible to all students. For example, how do people with visual or perceptual deficits work with symbols and formulas? Learn more here.

 

Instructional Methods and Media & Materials links will provide tips to help you create universally designed materials.

 

 

Classrooms
Internal link

EqTD AUDIT

Use this AUDIT to evaluate the accessibility and usability of non-text graphics in a variety of media.

 

 

R2D2 Center at UW-Milwaukee

(Excel Document) EqTD AUDIT

(Word Document) EqTD Manual

Internal link

In-line EqTD AUDIT

Here is the AUDIT to use to evaluate the accessibility of in-line text characters that need to be treated as graphic elements for accessibility e.g. subscript,  ampersand, foreign letters.

 

 

R2D2 Center at UW-Milwaukee

(Excel Document) In-line EqTD AUDIT

(Word Document) In-line EqTD AUDIT Manual (Version 1.3)

Internal link

EqTD's for Graphic Elements - Why & Where

Equivalent text descriptions (EqTD's) are extremely important and can be tricky. Here you will find a set of EqTD related documents that detail processes, purposes and levels of complexity.  The origin of providing alternative text for graphic elements and a brief review of the R2D2 standard are included.

 

R2D2 Center at UW-Milwaukee

(Word Document) Equivalent Text Descriptions - Why and Where

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Equivalent Text Description (EqTD) Tutorial for Graphics

This short tutorial provides examples and a structure for writing equivalent text descriptions for graphic elements. 

R2D2 Center at UW-Milwaukee

(Word Document) Tutorial for EqTDs

Internal link

Font Size for Accessible Media in the Classroom

These two Power Point slides provide a guideline to insure that the font size within print media are accessible when projected.

ACCESS-ed Project

(PowerPoint Presentation) How to Determine Font Size for Accessible Media

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No Manual Formatting

In word processed documents (that are not RTF files), formatting with the use of "B" or "I" or by manually organizing content with tabs, underlines, etc. provides structure and organization that is only available to sighted readers.  Using the "styles" features of word processing software is essential to creating documents that are universally designed. 

(Word Document) No Manual Formatting

Internal link

Procurement for Accessible Goods & Materials

This posterette describes recommended steps to ensure maximum accessibility when acquiring goods and materials - custom or "off the shelf".

R2D2 Center at UW-Milwaukee

(Word Document) Good and Materials Procurement

(Word Document) Procurement Tips

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Thesis/Project and Dissertation Accessibility Protocol

Graduate students in the Occupational Therapy Department at UWM are required to provide an accessible copy of their thesis, project or dissertation.  This protocol explains the required "why" and "how".  It is distributed in conjunction with a formatted template that includes all of the requirements of the graduate school at UWM.

R2D2 Center at UW-Milwaukee

(Word Document) Thesis/Project & Dissertation Protocol

External link

[Research-based] An Ocean of Potentiality: Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Science Engineering and Mathematics

 An Ocean of Potentiality: Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Science Engineering and Mathematics. This is a link to a series of briefs related to this program, including the perspectives of professionals who had been involved with the program.

University of Hawai'i at Manoa

External link

A Mnemonic Strategy to Help Remember the Order of Operation for Solving Math Equations

A simple example of an alternative teaching method.

Ryan, D. - Springfield Technical Community College

External link

Accessibility and Computer Science Education

Link to the PDF report: Presents 4 position statements resulting from a discussion forum on accessibility and computer science education. Panelists discussed reasons to integrate accessibility and universal design into the computer science curriculum. Proceedings of the 37th SIGCSE technical symposium on computer science education; Houston, Texas; March 03 - 05, 2006 , Pgs. 63-64.

Rosmaita, J, Deibel, K, Cohen, R & Egan, M

External link

Accessible Calculators

One of many "AT Quick Reference" guides developed by the Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access"

CATEA

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Accessible Data Tables

Detailed instructions. Also, other website links on the topic are provided.

Hudson, R - "Web Usability"

External link

Accessible Digital Media: Guideline G: Math

All of the how-to's for making scientific and mathematical expressions accessible for electronic publications, multimedia, and the web.

WGBH National Center for Accessible Media

External link

Allison and Chemistry: A Case Study on Accommodations in Group Work and Discussion

A student with a disability shares her experience as a chemistry major

Washington University, DO-IT

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Education - No One Size Fits All

From "Chemical and Engineering News", October 24, 2005, discusses UD in educations, emphasis on math and science. Has a link to the 75 page pdf version of "Teaching Chemistry to Students with Disabilities: A Manual for High Schools, Colleges, and Graduate Programs" 4th Edition. Dorothy L. Miner, Ron Nieman, Anne B. Swanson, and Michael Woods, Editors

American Chemical Society Committee on Chemists with Disabilities

External link

Effective Practices for Description of Science Content within Digital Talking Book Project

"This project is researching and documenting effective practices for providing meaningful descriptions of science content within Digital Talking Books that serve post-secondary students, professionals and scientists who have visual impairments or blindness. A particular focus is ways to describe non-text content, such as equations, charts, and diagrams." [Annotation from CATEA resource page]

NCAM

External link

How do I create accessible math content?

Brief tips on delivering accessible mathematics information. Includes links.

California State University Accessible Technology Initiative

External link

Information Access-Technology, Opportunities, Education

Sponsored by the NSF, this project is dedicated to encouraging students with disabilities in the sciences. Comprehensive discussion of R&D advances of new assistive technologies.

University of Delaware's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

External link

Line of Sight

While written primarily for hard of hearing students, provides important perspective that is  actually universally designed. 

Class Act: a project of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Rochester Institute of Technology (NTID/RIT), Rochester, New York

Classrooms

It took me several years of struggling with the heavy door to my building, sometimes having to wait until a person stronger came along, to realize that the door was an accessibility problem, not only for me, but for others as well. And I did not notice, until one of my students pointed it out, that the lack of signs that could be read from a distance at my university forced people with mobility impairments to expend a lot of energy unnecessarily, searching for rooms and offices. Although I have encountered this difficulty myself on days when walking was exhausting to me, I interpreted it, automatically, as a problem arising from my illness (as I did with the door), rather than as a problem arising from the built environment having been created for too narrow a range of people and situations.

Susan Wendell, author of
The Rejected Body: Feminist Philosophical Reflections on Disability