math-a11y

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

For NVDA to work with digital math content, it needs to have an add-on installed. The best addon for speaking math and creating math braille codes in Nemeth or UEB is the MathCAT plug-in. 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:

NVDA Settings

Choosing your Voice Synthesizer:

There are usually at least three choices: eSpeak NG, Microsoft Speech API, Windows OneCore voices. All synthesizers work, but the Windows OneCore voices don’t support speaking “a” properly and the other options should be used. In particular, the Microsoft Speech API is a good substitute for the OneCore voices.

To change this:

  1. Open NVDA
  2. Start NVDA
  3. Use the NVDA Key + n to bring up the NVDA Menu
    1. The NVDA Key is usually the INS key
    2. Alternatively, use the mouse to find the NVDA icon in the toolbar. Note that the NVDA icon might be hidden. Use the show hidden icons option to bring it up
  4. Select Preferences from the NVDA Menu
  5. Select Settings…
  6. Go to Speech
  7. The Windows OneCore voice will be the default under synthesizer, activate the Change button
  8. Select Microsoft Speech API version x (as of the time of writing this document, version 5 is the latest)
  9. Activate the “OK” button
  10. Activate the “Apply” button
  11. Activate the “OK” button to close the dialog

Installing MathCAT Add-on:

  1. Go to: MathCAT Add-on Page
  2. Activate the “Stable Version” link. This should be the 3rd bullet that reads “Download Stable Version”.
  3. Find the file you downloaded and open it. A dialogue should come up that says:
    “Are you sure you want to install this add-on? Only install add-ons from trusted sources. Addon: MathCAT: speech and Braille from MathML”
  4. Select “Yes”
  5. NVDA will ask you to restart, select “Yes”

Accessing the MathCAT settings

Note: in case you need it, see the MathCAT Settings documentation.

To open the MathCAT Preferences dialog in NVDA:

  1. Start NVDA
  2. Use the NVDA Key + n to bring up the NVDA Menu.
    1. The NVDA Key is usually the INS key.
    2. Alternatively, if using the mouse to find the NVDA icon in the toolbar. Note that the NVDA icon might be hidden. Use the show hidden icons option to bring it up.
  3. Select “Preferences” from the NVDA Menu
  4. Select “MathCAT Settings…”

The MathCAT Preferences dialog has three categories of settings: Speech, Navigation, and Braille. We are interested in setting the Speech and Navigation settings:

Speech Category Settings:

Setting Set to
Generate Speech for Blindness [Default]
Speech Style ClearSpeak [Default]
Speech Verbosity Verbose
Speech for chemical equations Off (H sub 2 O)
Setting Set to
Navigation mode Enhanced [Default]
Navigation speech to use when beginning to navigate an equation Speak [Default]
Speech amount for navigation Verbose
Copy math as MathML

Navigating Math with MathCAT

To use MathCAT with NVDA, it is helpful to understand the MathCAT navigation modes, know the MathCAT navigation commands, and the keys used to activate them.

For a full list of navigation commands, see the Navigation Commands Table in the MathCAT User Guide.

Activating MathCAT’s Navigation Features

To activate the MathCAT navigation features when reading a web page with NVDA, navigate to an expression and then press “Enter”. NVDA should speak “Math”.

Basic Math Navigation

Typically, you will start at the first term of an expression. The left and right arrow keys will move you through the terms at your current navigation level. You might also move up and down levels if needed by using the up and down arrow keys. alt+ctrl+arrow is used to move around cells in a table.

Backspace will take you back to where you were, which is not always the same as moving to the left. For example, if the right arrow moved you out of a fraction, backspace will take you back to where you were in the denominator and left arrow will land on the entire fraction.

You will likely find one mode of navigation the most natural for you most of the time. This can be set in the MathCAT settings. However, at any time during navigation, you can switch the navigation modes using shift+up/down arrow. This is useful because each mode of navigation has its strengths and weaknesses.

To Copy a Math Expression from a Web Page Using MathCAT

While navigating an expression, “control+c” copies the MathML for the part of the expression you are currently navigating. If you want to copy the entire expression, be sure to up-arrow until you hear “Zoomed out all the way”.

When you press “Control+c”, you should hear NVDA say “Copy as MathML”.