[AERNet] Accessible Chemistry Book

[Ike Presley]

Hi All,
 
Here's an announcement about an accessible chemistry book that was
posted on the Blindmath list. It sounds pretty interesting.
Ike
 
Subject: [Nfb-rdcomm] New Accessible Chemistry book available

 

Here is something I received from a friend who wanted me to promote this
new accessible chemistry book. There will be several presentations on
this topic at the National Convention. Please feel free to forward this
to anyone who you think might be interested. Cary Supalo Chemistry in
the Community, New Digital Talking Book

 

In collaboration with gh, LLC, (an assistive technology company) the
American Chemical Society has converted its high school chemistry
textbook Chemistry in the Community into a digital talking book (DTB)
format. This will be the first digital talking chemistry textbook on the
market and is designed to help students who are blind or visual impaired
study chemistry along with their sighted peers. Chemistry in the
Community, DTB will also be a powerful tool for students who have
reading difficulties or for whom English is a second language.

 

Converting a high school chemistry textbook into a DTB presented
interesting challenges for ACS Education Division and gh staff, as
chemistry textbooks contain unique features which must be accurately
represented in the digital reading of the text.  For example, the
pictorial nature of a chemistry textbook (illustrations, figures,
tables, graphs, molecular models, formulas and equations) makes the use
of a "text only" access method ineffective. In order to make a chemistry
text actually usable, the essential graphics need to be communicated so
they can be understood by a student who is blind or visually impaired.

 

A careful review of the initial drafts of the product revealed the
nuances of reading dimensional analysis, stock method naming, ionic
charges, and catalyzed reactions. These items were addressed along with
the other graphic elements to create a product that is now ready for
field tests.

 

ACS is currently looking for interested teachers and students to help
with this phase of the project. Teachers of blind and visual impaired
students will be asked to use the DTB in their classrooms during the
spring and early summer and to provide valuable input on the usability
and effectiveness of the product. Student input regarding usability will
also be solicited. The final digital talking book is expected to be
released in the fall following the completion of the field tests. If you
are interested in field testing this exciting new product please contact
chemcom at acs.org.

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