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Accessibility

Tips for Digital Accessibility in STEM

Digital accessibility in STEM can be complex—from notation‑heavy equations to data‑dense visuals. Explore step‑by‑step approaches and campus tools to make your courses more inclusive.

1) Math & Scientific Equations

Ensure equations can be read and navigated by assistive technologies.

  • Use MathML (or a platform that outputs MathML) for screen readers.
  • Render LaTeX with MathJax (or similar) for web‑based materials.
  • Add plain‑language explanations describing what the equation represents and why it matters. (e.g., “This equation shows mass–energy equivalence, where energy equals mass times the square of the speed of light.”)

Tip: The Yuja Panorama platform in Canvas includes a variety of alternative formats, including MathML and Latex, that students can use to help them engage with course content. Provide information to students on how to access and use the Alternative Formats menu, including the Math Formats.

2) Complex Images (Diagrams, Charts, Graphs)

Make visual information perceivable and screen‑reader friendly.

  • Add concise alt text that states the image’s purpose.
  • Provide a long description for complex visuals (below the image or in a linked document).
  • Label axes, series, data points, and other key elements.
  • Do not rely on color alone; use patterns, shapes, or labels.
  • Include an accessible data table with the underlying values for charts/graphs.

Tip: Use the Poet Training Tool to learn how to describe images in STEM fields or try ASU's Image Accessibility Generator to create image details: concise alt text, a long description, and transcribed text in the image.

3) Documents & Presentations

Organize content for navigation and compatibility.

  • Use structured headings (H1, H2, etc.) instead of manual formatting.
  • Write descriptive link text (e.g., “View molecular structure graph”).
  • Fix untagged and scanned PDFs.
  • Use accessible slide templates and maintain adequate color contrast. An accessible PowerPoint template can be found in the UM-branded assets repository.

Tip: Use available tools such as the OCR document converter or Panorama's PDF Remediation Engine Max to fix inaccessible PDFs. Learn more about these tools on the Document Accessibility webpage.

4) Multimedia (Video, Audio, Interactive Tutorials)

Provide equivalent access to time‑based content.

  • Add accurate, synchronized captions for all videos (include key math/visual cues where relevant).
  • Provide audio descriptions for essential on‑screen actions/visuals not conveyed by dialogue.
  • If possible, describe verbally any on-screen actions or visuals, so the descriptions are included in the audio and therefore in the captions and transcript.
  • Offer full transcripts that capture spoken words and essential visual information.

Tip: Use UM's Captioning Services to add captions and generate transcripts for multimedia. This includes Panopto, UM's video hosting platform, which provides AI-generated automatic captions and tools for editing them.

Need Help?

Contact the Learning Experience and Design (LEAD) team for help creating and remediating course content and instructional materials. Schedule a 30-minute one-on-one session with an instructional designer or attend a live webinar or workshop. Visit the LEAD GrizHub page for upcoming trainings.