[Athen] Chemical bonds in Braille

[Joshua Hori via athen-list]

Check out the SMILES format, which can be done using Mathpix. They use parentheses, equal sign, and brackets to indicate connections.

The first one is: [H]C(=O)[2C]([H])(O)[3C]([H])(O)[4C]([H])(O)[5C]([H])(O)[6C]([H])([H])O

SMILES code can be made accessible in Canvas if using the Canvas Equation Editor, although you may need to inform users that a verbosity change will be needed to announce the different characters and capital letters.

You can visually verify and edit the SMILES code using this generator: https://www.cheminfo.org/flavor/malaria/Utilities/SMILES_generator___checker/index.html

You can also use the Braille font (SimBraille) to replace the text, so the text is embossed with the image without the need to cut and paste. It only produces Grade1 Braille though.

Best,


Joshua Hori

Accessible Technology Coordinator

Information Educational Technology

Academic Technology Services

50 Hutchison Dr.

Davis, CA 95616

530-752-2439

Schedule a meeting via Calendly<https://calendly.com/d/ytt-hsj-vbn>

From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman22.u.washington.edu> on behalf of Willard, Amy via athen-list <athen-list at u.washington.edu>
Date: Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at 7:08 AM
To: Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu>
Subject: [Athen] Chemical bonds in Braille

I am trying to figure out the best way to create chemical bond structures for a blind student. In the past I have been enlarging a photo like the one below, putting it through my toaster/tactile machine, and cutting and gluing Braille labels  in place of the text. I feel like there is a better way to do this.  I have Duxbury so I have heard there is a way to do it on there (currently looking up manuals) but I wanted to see how other schools convert something like this:
[http://faculty.clintoncc.suny.edu/faculty/michael.gregory/files/Bio%20101/Bio%20101%20Lectures/Biochemistry/linear%20and%20ring%20forms%20of%20glucose.gif]

Thanks all,

Amy Willard
Accessible Technology Coordinator|ADA Compliance
Metropolitan Community College
Office: 816-604-1092
3200 Broadway, Kansas City, MO  64111<https://www.google.com/maps/place/3200+Broadway,+Kansas+City,+MO+64111/@39.068401,-94.5925967,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x87c0f0268c405bbd:0x3948585fea5ebee4>
amy.willard at mcckc.edu<mailto:amy.willard at mcckc.edu> | www.mcckc.edu<http://www.mcckc.edu/>

Preparing students, serving communities, creating opportunities for all

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