Dr Denise M Robinson

Access Technology & Education Services for Blind and Low Vision

Search results for: “venn”

Accessible Venn Diagrams with a Screen Reader: How Blind Students Navigate and Understand Overlapping Sets

Using Venn diagrams with screen readers involves strategic design and specific keyboard commands to ensure accessibility. Each set in the diagram must have clear, descriptive labels to guide screen reader users effectively. These labels help users understand the content without needing visual cues. Alt text plays a crucial role by summarizing the Venn diagram’s purpose, the sets involved, and their intersections. This concise description enables screen reader users to grasp the diagram’s structure and intent.

Keyboard navigation is essential for screen reader users to interact with Venn diagrams. The Tab key allows users to move through interactive elements like text boxes or linked descriptions associated with the diagram. Arrow keys are useful for navigating within tables or text boxes that describe the diagram’s content. This functionality ensures that users can access all relevant information without relying on visual input.

Screen Reader Venn Diagram Commands

Screen reader software, like JAWS or NVDA, includes commands that facilitate navigation. In JAWS, the Ctrl+H command lets users jump between headings, making it easier to navigate through complex content. NVDA users can use the Ctrl+Alt+Arrow keys to move between headings or landmarks within a webpage or document. These commands are vital for quickly accessing different parts of the content related to the Venn diagram.

Incorporating structured content enhances the usability of Venn diagrams for screen reader users. Headings, bullet points, and numbered lists help break down complex information into manageable sections. This structure allows users to follow the logical flow of information without confusion. So, Screen reader users can also navigate through tables that complement the Venn diagram. Tables list elements within each set and describe intersections, making the relationships between sets clear. JAWS users can move horizontally between cells using Ctrl+Alt+Right/Left Arrow keys, and vertically with Ctrl+Alt+Up/Down Arrow keys.

Careful Planning

Creating accessible Venn diagrams for screen reader users requires careful planning. By using descriptive text, alt text, structured content, and keyboard commands, educators and content creators can ensure that all users, including those who rely on screen readers, can effectively interact with and understand Venn diagrams. These strategies are essential for making complex visual information accessible to everyone. More Video Lessons here

Create your Venn Diagram via WORD and shapes, applications key to move to back or forward then use these commands to access: Venn Diagram-Accessible

Ctrl Shift O to all objects, escape when done writing, select object then tab through all objects to access A, B and other combo letters. Once open in Google, Alt f to file and d to download as Word doc. Then F12 for save as and Ctrl Shift O will work correctly. This will NOT work in Google.

When done, have student emboss off a copy to feel what it is like and if you are having computer issues, tweak it to work better with screen reader.

Another lesson that occurs in school: Family Tree with Smart Art and screen reader

Math Lessons

Transcribe Math Images

Quadratic Math

STEM with Embossing

Perfect Digital Math

JAWS and MathCat

Unicode with UEB Math

UEB Math with Jaws

UEB LaTex math with Jaws

Braille Math in WORD Editor-Multi-line

Split Braille for Buffer Mode

Braille Blaster

Desmos Lessons:

Desmos 3D graphing

for Geometry in Desmos

for STEM and Embossing in Desmos

Desmos and inserting graphs into Math Work in WORD

Creating shaded Parabolas in Desmos

Games with Desmos with Drag and Drop

Drag n Drop in Macmillan Learning

Creating Geometry Table

April 19, 2023
Create and Emboss Graphics with Tiger Designer

Embossing graphics for Blind Students: Dr. Robinson offers this video for families and transcribers needing to adapt images for blind students to “see.” This video offers a straightforward approach to creating accessible Venn diagrams using the technique to emboss graphics with Tiger.

Dr. Robinson begins by explaining how to handle a Venn Diagram or any graphic. She demonstrates using a Venn diagram with two large, intertwined circles, where all parts are shaded. Such images blur when transferred into Tiger Designer, a common tool for producing tactile graphics. She recommends redrawing the diagram for clarity, ease, and speed. This approach is more effective than fixing the shaded areas when you emboss graphics with Tiger.

How to Emboss the Tiger Graphic

To show blur issues, she creates a new diagram, by opening Tiger Designer and pressing Control + N to start a new document. After ensuring the default settings are correct, pasting an image using Control + V will result in a blurry output due to the shading. In this case, Dr. Robinson suggests redrawing the Venn diagram. Ctrl + N for new again and Alt+O or click on Tools. Select a line width of 2.5 or 3, as thicker lines are easier for students to feel when you emboss graphics with Tiger.

Dr. Robinson then demonstrates how to draw two circles from the tool’s menu, representing the basic structure of the Venn diagram. She emphasizes the importance of labeling the sections and typing in uncontracted Braille works fine. She notes that while parents may not be familiar with contractions, students are accustomed to reading uncontracted Braille. It’s crucial to use these steps to emboss graphics with Tiger accurately.

Finally, Dr. Robinson shows how to emboss the Tiger graphic with Ctrl + P to emboss. Ensure the correct printer model and settings are applied. The final result will be a clear and accessible tactile diagram that the student can easily interpret.

This and more lessons provide a simple and effective way for parents and transcribers to create accessible Venn diagrams for visually impaired students. Need Training?. Ask away. We are tech specialists in all areas.

UEB Math to emboss also

But first make sure that computer is working well.

September 5, 2024
Hayes Learns Proper Word Setup for Accessible Math Using a Brailliant Braille Display

Student Hayes has issues completing math in WORD as her label number do not read. Dr. Robinson demonstrates how to resolve issues with auto-numbering in Word. She first identifies that automatic numbering is causing issues for the student using dot 2 and space in the Brailliant Braille display, especially when numbers appear incorrectly on the Braille display. To address this, she instructs to press “Alt + F” to open the File menu, followed by “T” for options, then “P” for proofing, and finally “Alt + A” to access AutoCorrect options.

She guides users through unchecking five specific boxes that affect text formatting, ensuring the correct settings are applied. Dr. Robinson emphasizes the importance of turning off automatic numbered lists, which often causes unexpected changes in documents.

After confirming the settings, she instructs on how to apply these changes by pressing “Enter” to save them. This step ensures the document is correctly formatted and ready for the student to use in MathKicker.AI.

Braille Viewer to accurately solve math problems

Next, Dr. Robinson advises turning on the Braille viewer. Using the Jaws context menu and U, to navigate to the utilities to access the Braille viewer. Braille viewer allows the teacher to view the math problems correctly on student screen in Braille. While student uses fingers to read display.

Then Dr. Robinson explains how to use the Math Viewer by pressing “Insert + Space + Equals.” This enables the student to navigate through the math content character by character. This command helps ensure accuracy in reading and solving math problems, especially when using Braille displays.

Finally, she explains how to open the Braille Math Editor now that auto numbering issues are resolved. Eventually, she will learn how to use split braille on her display. Student can braille equations in Nemeth code, and ensure that each step of the problem is correct to accurately solve math problems. Dr. Robinson highlights how the Math Editor will not accept incomplete or incorrect inputs. The student cannot close the editor without fixing errors. This method reinforces correct equation formatting. It ensures students accurately solve math problems using auditory and Braille math tools.

Other Math Lessons

Other Math Lessons:

Transcribe Math Images

Quadratic Math

STEM with Embossing

Perfect Digital Math

JAWS and MathCat

Unicode with UEB Math

UEB Math with Jaws

UEB LaTex math with Jaws

Braille Math in WORD Editor-Multi-line

Split Braille for Buffer Mode

Braille Blaster

More Desmos Lessons:

Desmos 3D graphing

for Geometry in Desmos

for STEM and Embossing in Desmos

Desmos and inserting graphs into Math Work in WORD

Creating shaded Parabolas in Desmos

Games with Desmos with Drag and Drop

Drag n Drop in Macmillan Learning

Creating Geometry Table

Venn Diagram

Solving inequalities

Create Histogram

Excel Trend line with Scatter Plot

Other Excel Lessons that you can do in Sheets

Flashcard Study

Here is a younger student using the Braille Math Editor also.

April 27, 2024
Blind Braille‑Math Student Fights STEM Book Shortages and Stigma

This story is rewritten from original post.

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Tenn. As school resumed, a Jefferson County student waited weeks for an important textbook to arrive from out of state. This doesn’t seem like a big deal, except it’s a calculus book for Math for blind students and it’s written in Braille. Campbell Rutherford is a home school student in Jefferson County.

She started homeschooling with a teacher for the visually impaired because math for blind students was no longer available in the local school district. Campbell was born blind and has been reading braille since she was 3 years old. “I rely completely on braille and screen readers to access the printed word,” she said. Campbell, accustomed to reading Braille, competes in state Braille reading competitions yearly and has even reached nationals. So naturally, she’d like to be able to read her textbooks in Braille.

Because each page has to be embossed with the Braille indentations, Campbell’s textbooks are huge. Here’s her AP physics book. All these binders are one book for Math for blind students, containing everything in the print book next to it, just in Braille.

Credit: Liza Rutherford: Campbell Rutherford stands with her AP Physics book in Braille of 25 volumes of 11 x11.5 size, next to the book in print of 2 inches thick.

“I used to have to borrow a truck to go get her books,” said her mom, Liza Rutherford. Braille books are larger because the text must be big enough for readers to feel with their fingertips. A standard physics book may have four graphs on one page, but in Braille, each graph requires its own page. The National Braille Press reported about 12 percent of blind school-age students can read Braille, limiting access to advanced textbooks.

NO AP Math Books

There were no Braille AP calculus books in the state of Tennessee. The Rutherford’s worked with the Tennessee School for the Blind to find this 20-year-old edition from Maryland. Campbell said schools often discourage visually impaired students from taking challenging courses. “I have friends that, when they’re struggling with Math, they’ve been told, ‘it’s okay that blind people aren’t good at math typically,’” said Campbell.

Credit: Liza Rutherford-Campbell Rutherford’s calculus book in Braille of 32 volumes of 11 x11.5 size, by to the book in print of 2 inches thick..

Campbell plans to major in math in college and go into epidemiology. She said it’s those low expectations that hinder her and others the most, not her lack of vision. “We even had an administrator at one point come to me and say, ‘does Campbell really need a high school diploma for her adult life?’” said her mom Liza Rutherford. “That’s probably the one that’s infuriated me the most over the years,” said Campbell.

Lack of Advanced Placement (AP) Math for blind students Books

The National Federation for the Blind reported only 31.6 percent of blind individuals hold a high school diploma or GED. The Rutherford’s believe a shortage of teachers for the visually impaired adds to this problem.

Credit: Liza Rutherford: A mathematical graph transcribed in Braille.

They are hopeful that as technology spreads, more blind students will have the educational access they need. “There are other ways of doing things besides the sighted way or the able way,” said Campbell. Campbell connected with a blind math professor from Connecticut who assists her with any course-related questions. She took AP physics and AP calculus with a proctor who will describe the graphs and record her multiple-choice answers.

Math for Blind Students- Full Broadcast and article

Campbell is now attending Harvard University taking Applied Mathematics as a major and a Junior.

Lessons to Prepare YOU!

Math Lessons:

Transcribe Math Images

Quadratic Math

STEM with Embossing

Perfect Digital Math

JAWS and MathCat

Unicode with UEB Math

UEB Math with Jaws

UEB LaTex math with Jaws

Braille Math in WORD Editor-Multi-line

Split Braille for Buffer Mode

Braille Blaster

complete multi line BME-Braille Math Editor

math student fights Stigma

More Desmos Lessons:

Desmos 3D graphing

for Geometry in Desmos

for STEM and Embossing in Desmos

Desmos and inserting graphs into Math Work in WORD

Creating shaded Parabolas in Desmos

Games with Desmos with Drag and Drop

Drag n Drop in Macmillan Learning

Creating Geometry Table

Venn Diagram

Solving inequalities

Create Histogram

Excel Trend line with Scatter Plot

Other Excel Lessons that you can do in Sheets

Flashcard Study

February 16, 2021
Family Tree with Smart Art and Screen Reader
Using your newest WORD version, Create a family tree in Microsoft Word using (1997-2023) keyboard commands is straightforward and efficient. Most importantly, it is accessible. After you open WORD, press F12 for save as and name it then tab to save as an arrow to 1997-2023 and enter. Then press Alt + N to open the Insert tab, then press M to select SmartArt. In the SmartArt dialog box, (typically the first item, so listen) or use the arrow keys to navigate to the “Hierarchy” category and select a suitable layout for your Family Tree with Smart Art, such as “Organizational Chart.” Press Enter to insert the SmartArt graphic into your document.

This is the method of creating a Family Tree with Smart Art and screen reader. You can then use the Tab key to move between different elements of the chart and Enter to add new family members. To edit text within the SmartArt, simply press F2 to enter text editing mode. This method allows you to create a detailed and visually appealing family tree using just your keyboard and screen reader.

When you are looking to do sophisticated work such as Family trees, etc., always do as save as to 97-2023 as that Version was fully accessible and still is IF you remember the commands. Here is a few below Family Tree:

Family Tree with Smart Art and screen reader

Family Tree with Smart Art

Here are the keyboard commands for accessing the Insert menu in Microsoft Word (1997-2023):
1. Open Insert Menu in WORD:
  - Press Alt + N.
2. Insert Picture:
  - After pressing Alt + N, press P.
3. Insert Table:
  - After pressing Alt + N, press T.
4. Insert Shapes:
  - After pressing Alt + N, press S.
5. Insert SmartArt:
  - After pressing Alt + N, press M.
6. Insert Chart:
  - After pressing Alt + N, press C.
7. Insert Hyperlink:
  - After pressing Alt + N, press I.
8. Insert Text Box:
  - After pressing Alt + N, press X.
9. Insert Header:
  - After pressing Alt + N, press H.
10. Insert Footer:
  - After pressing Alt + N, press O.
11. Insert Page Number:
  - After pressing Alt + N, press NU.
Another lesson that works just as well: Venn Diagrams with Screen Reader

These commands should help you efficiently navigate and use the Insert menu in Word. However, if you are experiencing computer issues, fix it and get it setup correctly for speed.

Now learn to convert braille file into WORD or learn from hundreds of other video lessons
March 3, 2015

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