WGBH Issues Guidelines for Describing STEM Materials to the Visually Impaired

Despite the technological strides made in recent years to aid the blind and sight-impaired--voice simulation reading software, peripherals that translate text into Braille, audiobooks in virtually every category--such readers have continued to face obstacles in the form of visual enhancements to STEM-related texts, such as charts, graphs, diagrams, and photos. However, Boston-based public television station WGBH has taken the next step, issuing a book of guidelines on how best to describe, in detail, such visuals.

Working in collaboration with the American Foundation for the Blind, as well as researchers and experts at several companies and organizations that specialize in accommodating the visually impaired, and with funds from a National Science Foundation grant, WGBH's Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) has published the online manual "Effective Practices for Description of Science Content within Digital Talking Books." Using data compiled from a four-year study encompassing surveys and interviews with scientists and students with vision loss, the book describes the methods most preferred by the target audience for describing visual information in texts and scientific journals.

The book covers in depth how best to verbally describe many commonly used visual enhancements, including bar charts, line graphs, Venn diagrams, tables, pie charts, flow charts, and complex diagrams and illustrations.

In addition to the book, NCAM is offering free 90-minute Webinars to train users in implementing the guidelines, scheduled as follows:

  • Wed., Sept. 30, 10:00 a.m. EST;
  • Tue., Oct. 20, 1:30 p.m. EST; and
  • Thu., Dec. 3, 12:00 noon EST.

Additional webinar dates are also planned for 2010. To register, send an e-mail requesting your preferred date and time here.

About the Author

Scott Aronowitz is a freelance writer based in Las Vegas. He has covered the technology, advertising, and entertainment sectors for seven years. He can be reached here.

Featured

  • pattern of icons for math and reading, including a pi symbol, calculator, and open book

    HMH Launches Personalized Path Solution

    Adaptive learning company HMH has introduced HMH Personalized Path, a K-8 ELA and math product that combines intervention curriculum, adaptive practice, and assessment for students of all achievement levels.

  • Abstract AI circuit board pattern

    Nonprofit LawZero to Work Toward Safer, Truthful AI

    Turing Award-winning AI researcher Yoshua Bengio has launched LawZero, a nonprofit aimed at developing AI systems that prioritize safety and truthfulness over autonomy.

  • computer screen displaying a landline phone being unplugged from a single cord, with a modern office desk, keyboard, and subtle lighting in the background

    Microsoft Shutting Down Skype

    Microsoft has announced that it will discontinue service for its Skype telecommunications and video calling services on May 5, 2025.

  • Abstract geometric shapes including hexagons, circles, and triangles in blue, silver, and white

    Google Introduces Its Most Advanced AI Model Yet

    Google has launched Gemini 2.5 Pro Experimental, a new artificial intelligence model designed to reason through problems before delivering answers, a shift that marks a major leap in AI capability, according to the company.