Recommended Software

MathType

MathType Links to an external site. is a software designed to help type and hand-write mathematical notation to include quality math equations in documents and digital content easily. MathType is available for desktop, web (Google Docs), and Microsoft Word on iPad.

Some key features include:

• Save frequently used equations and symbols in customizable toolbar
• Copy or convert to LaTeX
• Integrated with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Apple Pages
• Export and import MathML, making it easy to integrate into many publishing workflows using XML
• Save or export equations as images for applications that support only images
• Use any standard keyboard input method to input non-Latin based characters & accepts international keyboards
• Directly integrates with Word and Duxbury Braille Translator (DBT) to create documents with mathematical braille

Additional MathType Resources: 

• MathType Tips & Tricks by Wiris Links to an external site.. 
• Introductory Tutorials by Wiris Links to an external site.

MathPix

MathPix Links to an external site. is a tool that can screenshot any math and have it rendered to a variety of formats. Export images and PDFs to LaTex, DOCX, Overleaf, Markdown, Excel, ChemDraw and more, with our AI powered document conversion technology.

MathPlayer

When creating math expressions in MathType with Microsoft Word or PowerPoint, MathPlayer Links to an external site. will allow you to immediately hear how a math expression will be read without having to use a screen reader. This is especially useful when someone is just beginning to use MathType, because there may be more than one way of authoring a math expression which may look right visually, but not necessarily convey the same semantics and thus produce different speech. MathPlayer is also needed if you are going to try to read the Word or PowerPoint document later with the NVDA screen reader. MathPlayer also provides for speech output when MathType has been used to export an HTML document containing MathML expressions.

One thing to note is that although MathPlayer runs in either the 64-bit or 32-bit Windows Operating System, it does not support the 64-bit version of Word. There are only a few instances where users will have the 64-bit version of Office installed on their PC (the 32-bit version is suggested for most users regardless of what Windows operating system is used), so this is unlikely to be an issue. Nonetheless, MathPlayer is not essential to the math production process and won’t impact the ability to use MathType in cases where the 64-bit version of Office has been installed.

Desmos

Desmos is an advanced graphing calculator implemented as a web application and a mobile application written in JavaScript.

Graphs can be created ahead of time and embedded directly into Canvas. 

Progressive Access Chemistry

Accessible Chemical Diagrams Links to an external site. is a tool in development that can assist with creating accessible chemical diagrams. This tool is not free and has had limited testing. Chemistry created in this tool will provide an accessible annotated SVG file embeddable into HTML. 

Pandoc

While not needed to author STEM materials in their native formats, Pandoc Links to an external site. is a useful application in circumstances where one desires to write content in one format and then export to another end product format. Pandoc is a free-to-use line-command tool that supports accessible math input and output formats including LaTeX, MathML, and MathJax. The strength of Pandoc is that it is very versatile and can be built into a very precise automated conversion process. On the other hand, it has a steep learning curve and will require a significant time investment to perfect the conversion process. It may, however, be a time-saving solution in the long run in some instances - for example, when math faculty create an extensive amount of content using LaTeX.

InftyReader

InftyReader Links to an external site. is an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) application that recognizes and translates scientific documents (including math symbols) into LaTeX, MathML and XHTML.

WordToEpub

Links to an external site.Using Microsoft Word and WordToEPUB Links to an external site., you can convert documents to the latest EPUB 3 format. EPUB is a wonderful format for reading publications on laptops, tablets, and smartphones, and it includes features such as rich navigation and great accessibility. The EPUB files created with this tool can be used in a wide variety of reading apps on any platform, with the ability to personalize visual features such as colors, font, text size, and layout. Many reading apps have other useful features such as read aloud, the ability to add comments and bookmarks, and support for electronic braille.

GrindEQ

GrindEQ Links to an external site.converts MathType to OML or LaTex to Word (Word equation editor).

This program is ideal for converting equations from MathML to OML equations. This program is best suited for creating EPUB files using WordToEPUB. 

Central Access Reader

Central Access Reader (CAR) Links to an external site. is a free, open-source, text-to-speech application designed specifically for students with print-related disabilities. CAR reads Word docs and pasted text using the voice installed on your computer. CAR has an intuitive interface and many customizable features.

Thorium

Thorium Links to an external site. is an accessible EPUB reader that can interact with math content that has been created from OML objects using the WordToEPUB toolbar.