Presenter – (Virtual)
Dr. Peter Walters,
Independence Science, West Lafayette, Indiana.
Abstract
LaTeX–a typesetting markup language which is designed to handle STEM content–is a common format for writing technical scientific, engineering, and mathematical documents. Typically, the LaTeX source file is compiled to create a (often PDF) document that looks professionally typeset. However, this source document is an ASCII text file that is screen reader- and refreshable braille display-friendly. This fact, along with its flexibility as a markup language, means that LaTeX is an excellent tool for any blind or low vision person interested in accessing STEM content to have in their repertoire. This talk will discuss the particular advantages of LaTeX as a tool for STEM access and identify some best practices for maximizing its utility with a screen reader and braille display.