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Accessibility Guide

Complete guide to screen reader, Braille, and ARIA accessibility features.

Overview

Accessible Math Reader is designed with accessibility as a core principle:

  • Screen Reader Support: NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, Narrator
  • Braille Displays: Nemeth and UEB notation
  • Keyboard Navigation: Full keyboard access with ARIA support
  • Visual Accessibility: High contrast mode, zoom controls

Speech Output

Verbosity Levels

Control how much detail is spoken:

Level Description Example Output
Verbose Full structural description "start fraction a over b end fraction"
Concise Shortened descriptions "a over b"
Superbrief Minimal output "fraction a b"

Configuration

from accessible_math_reader import MathReader, VerbosityLevel

reader = MathReader()
reader.set_verbosity(VerbosityLevel.CONCISE)

Or via environment variable:

export AMR_SPEECH_STYLE=concise

Braille Output

Nemeth Code

The standard for mathematics Braille in North America.

Expression Nemeth Braille
a/b ⠹⠁⠌⠃⠼
x² ⠭⠘⠆
√x ⠜⠭⠻

UEB (Unified English Braille)

International standard for English Braille.

Expression UEB Braille
a/b ⠷⠁⠌⠃⠾
x² ⠭⠔⠃
√x ⠩⠭

Choosing Notation

# Nemeth (default)
reader.to_braille(r"\frac{a}{b}", notation="nemeth")

# UEB
reader.to_braille(r"\frac{a}{b}", notation="ueb")

Refreshable Braille Display

The Unicode Braille output is compatible with refreshable Braille displays. Copy the output directly to use with your Braille hardware.

Keyboard Navigation

Web Interface Shortcuts

Shortcut Action
Ctrl + Enter Convert expression
Ctrl + L Clear input
Ctrl + B Toggle sidebar
Ctrl + Shift + T Toggle theme
Alt + 1 Formula tab
Alt + 2 Speech tab
Alt + 3 Braille tab
Alt + 4 Accessible tab

ARIA Navigation (Accessible Tab)

Navigate within mathematical expressions:

Key Action
Enter Drill down into element
Escape Go up to parent
← / → Move between siblings
Home Jump to first sibling
End Jump to last sibling
Space Announce current position

Navigation Modes

Browse Mode

Linear navigation through the expression.

"start fraction, a, over, b, end fraction"

Explore Mode (Default)

Interactive exploration with drill-down.

"Fraction" → [Enter] → "a" → [→] → "b"

Verbose Learning Mode

Extra context for learning math structure.

"Fraction: The numerator a is divided by the denominator b"

Setting Mode

reader.set_nav_mode("explore")  # or "browse", "verbose"

Screen Reader Tips

NVDA

  1. Enable "Speak typed characters" for input feedback
  2. Use browse mode (NVDA+Space) for linear reading
  3. Focus mode (NVDA+Space again) for ARIA navigation

JAWS

  1. Use virtual cursor for reading formula output
  2. PC cursor for ARIA navigation
  3. Enable "Math processing" if available

VoiceOver (macOS)

  1. Use VO+Shift+↓ to enter web content
  2. Navigate with VO+← and VO+→
  3. Interact with VO+Shift+↓ for ARIA elements

Narrator (Windows)

  1. Use Scan mode (Caps+Space) for reading
  2. Exit Scan mode for ARIA interaction
  3. Arrow keys for navigation within math

Visual Accessibility

Color Themes

  • Dark Mode: Reduced eye strain, high contrast text
  • Light Mode: Traditional appearance
  • High Contrast: Maximum visibility for low vision

Zoom Controls

// Web interface
zoomIn()   // +10%
zoomOut()  // -10%
resetZoom() // 100%

Font Sizing

The interface respects browser font size settings.

ARIA Implementation

Live Regions

Status messages announce automatically:

<div role="status" aria-live="polite">Copied to clipboard</div>

Math Roles

<div role="math" aria-label="a divided by b">
  ...
</div>

Focus Management

Proper focus order and visible focus indicators throughout.

Testing Accessibility

We test with:

  • Screen Readers: NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, Narrator
  • Tools: axe DevTools, WAVE, Lighthouse
  • Manual Testing: Keyboard-only navigation
  • User Testing: Feedback from blind and low-vision users