math-a11y

For the Equations in Microsoft Word Usability Walk-through, please use the following JAWS settings if possible.

This group’s efforts are focused on evaluating how well the Microsoft Equations work in Word for screen reader users. To avoid stumbling across known limitations in screen readers, please use the following:

• Windows 10 or Windows 11
• JAWS Version 2024.2406 or later
• MathCAT enabled in the JAWS “Early Adopter Program” dialog

JAWS Settings

Enabling MathCAT

The default math engine in JAWS has known issues when speaking digital math content. For JAWS to work its best at speaking digital math content, it needs to have MathCAT enabled via the “Early Adopter Program” dialog. To enable it:

1. Open JAWS
2. Open the “Early Adopter Program” dialog from “Options” > “Early Adopter Program…”
3. Make sure the “MathCAT” checkbox is checked
4. Activate the “OK” button to close the dialog
5. Be sure to restart JAWS

MathCAT Settings

To access the math settings in JAWS:

1. Open the JAWS Settings Center. It can be accessed from the JAWS dialog via menu at “Utilities” > “Settings Center”
2. Find the Math settings by searching for “Math” in the search box
3. In the search results list box, navigate the tree to the “Math Verbosity” entry
4. Switch to the “Speech” page in the dialog by pressing ‘F6’
5. Configure the Speech settings to the following:
   1. Speech Style: ClearSpeak
   2. Math Verbosity: Verbose
6. Activate the “Apply” button
7. Activate the “OK” button to close the JAWS Settings Center

To Copy a Math Expression with JAWS (MathCAT)

When you reach a math expression, it should be read aloud followed by the words “Math Content”. To copy the expression:

• Press “Enter” to bring up the “Math Viewer”. This will appear as a new window that pops up
• After it speaks all the new window information, JAWS should speak the first term of the expression
• Use the up arrow key to until the entire express is spoken aloud or you hear “Zoomed out all the way”
• Press “control + c”. You should hear JAWS say “Copied selection to clipboard”
• Press “Escape” to close the “Math Viewer” window