Creating accessible math content ensures that equations can be read and understood by everyone, including people who use screen readers or other assistive technologies. Accessible math is not about how an equation looks on the screen. It’s about how the equation is created and encoded behind the scenes so technology can interpret it correctly.

Math content that is typed using proper tools can be navigated, spoken, and understood by assistive technologies. Math that is presented as images, handwriting, or scans generally cannot.

This guidance is intended to:

• Help people who already “speak math” choose accessible tools and formats
• Prevent common accessibility problems
• Clarify when to seek additional support

Common Built-in Tools

If your tool includes an Insert Equation or Math option, use it instead of typing symbols manually.Common examples:

• Microsoft Word or PowerPoint
  • Insert → Equation.
  • Equations created this way are accessible when left in their native format.
  • Write an equation or formula (Microsoft)
• Google Docs
  • Insert → Equation.
  • This works well for simple equations, though support is more limited for complex math.
  • Use Equations in a Document (Google)
• Learning Management Systems (Canvas)
  • Use the built-in equation editor when creating pages, assignments, or quizzes.
  • How do I use the math equation editor in the rich content editor? (Canvas)

Avoid these common mistakes

• Typing equations as plain text using symbols and spacing
• Using screenshots or copied images of equations
• Creating equations in PowerPoint or Word as images instead of real math objects

Important warning: Handwritten equations and scanned math documents are not accessible.

• Screen readers cannot interpret handwriting or scanned images of text.
• Optical Character Recognition (OCR) does not reliably work for math.
• Photos of whiteboards, tablet handwriting saved as images, and scanned PDFs should be avoided.

If the math can’t be selected, copied, or edited as text, it isn’t accessible. If your content starts as "pen on paper", it must be re-created using an equation editor before being shared digitally.