Tools for Creating Accessible Math Content
Tools for Creating Accessible Math Content
Last Updated: July 1, 2026
My Workflow
For those interested, my pipeline for creating content for my students is: Markdown (authored in Obsidian.md) -> pandoc -> html -> LMS (D2L in my case).
My markdown often included embedded manipulatives from the activity creation sections below, primarily Doenet. You can see samples in my Calculus II notes on my teaching page, and other course note samples will be available after the Fall 2026 semester.
Authoring Languages
Markdown is a lightweight markup language designed to make writing structured, readable documents in plain text both simple and portable. For content authors—especially mathematicians building accessible materials—it offers a low-friction way to write headings, lists, emphasis, links, and basic structure without needing to work directly in HTML. The resulting text can be converted cleanly into a wide range of formats, making it well-suited for lecture notes, course websites, and computational notebooks where clarity and accessibility matter.
Originally created by John Gruber in 2004 (with contributions from Aaron Swartz), Markdown was motivated by the idea that writers should be able to focus on content rather than formatting syntax. It has since become a de facto standard for technical writing and documentation, with widespread use in platforms like GitHub, Jupyter notebooks, static site generators such as Jekyll, and academic workflows that rely on reproducible, version-controlled materials.
In mathematical and accessibility-focused contexts, Markdown is especially useful because it integrates naturally with tools like LaTeX math rendering, screen-reader–friendly HTML output, and modern publishing pipelines. It serves as a bridge between informal drafting and structured, accessible presentation—making it a practical foundation for building inclusive digital mathematics content.
PreTeXt is a markup language designed to facilitate the creation of high-quality, accessible mathematical content. It allows authors to write structured documents that can be easily converted into multiple formats, including HTML, PDF, and ePub, while ensuring that the content remains accessible to all users, including those using assistive technologies.
PreTeXt emphasizes semantic markup, which means that mathematical expressions and structures are represented in a way that conveys their meaning rather than just their appearance. This approach enhances accessibility and usability, making it easier for screen readers and other assistive tools to interpret the content correctly.
The PreTeXt ecosystem includes tools for authoring, validating, and publishing documents. Authors can focus on the content itself without worrying about the complexities of formatting or accessibility compliance. The resulting documents are not only visually appealing but also adhere to best practices in accessibility and usability.
Overall, PreTeXt provides a powerful framework for creating educational materials in mathematics and related fields, supporting both authors and learners in achieving a more inclusive learning experience.
PreFigure is a markup language designed to facilitate the creation of high-quality, accessible mathematical diagrams.
It describes itself as “PreFigure is to figures what PreTeXt is to text,” emphasizing its focus on creating structured, semantically meaningful figures that can be easily integrated into educational or research materials. PreFigure allows authors to define mathematical diagrams in a way that is both human-readable and machine-interpretable, ensuring that the resulting figures are accessible to all users, including those using assistive technologies.
The industry standard for mathematical typesetting for many years.
HTML5 is a markup language used for structuring and presenting content on the World Wide Web.
Many of the authoring options generate structured, accessible HTML5 content.
Format Conversion Tools
Interactive Activities or Exercises
Hosting and Deployment Tools
Student Data Collection
SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) is a set of technical standards for e-learning software products. It defines how online learning content and Learning Management Systems (LMS) communicate with each other, enabling the tracking of learner progress, completion status, and assessment results. SCORM-compliant content can be easily shared and reused across different LMS platforms, making it a widely adopted standard in the e-learning industry.
LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability) is a standard developed by IMS Global Learning Consortium that allows seamless integration of external learning tools and applications into Learning Management Systems (LMS). It enables educators to connect various educational resources, such as interactive content, assessments, and simulations, directly within their LMS environment. LTI facilitates single sign-on (SSO) for users, ensuring a smooth user experience while maintaining data security and privacy.
CSSplice (Standards, Protocols, and Learning Infrastructure for Computing Education) is a web-based platform that allows educators to create and manage interactive, accessible educational content. It provides tools for authoring, deploying, and tracking student engagement with learning materials. CSSplice supports various content formats, including HTML5, and integrates with Learning Management Systems (LMS) through standards like SCORM and LTI.