Universal Design: A new standard for displaying mathematics online

Abstract

The use of Universal Design is important when developing web content for instructional use, however most web content is not useable for students with visual and auditory disabilities. Typically web content is enhanced by placing “alt” tags with images, however most “alt” tag nomenclature is ineffective based on vague or general descriptions. The process, while easy for the designer, is relatively unusable for a person with actual disabilities. I will demonstrate a proven method on how to use Universal Design when creating web content for a finite math and brief calculus courses. This method uses MathML, a mark-up language, instead of clumsy images to display mathematics. All this without the designer trying to create clear interpretable text. The presentation will discuss, the trials and successes of creating online mathematical content for a blind student, by using a math instructors web knowledge and a blind student’s ambition to graduate.