As a student with low vision, I have trouble following along when taking math classes in the traditional classroom. There’s a lot of visual information on the board that I have to copy down quickly, and in high school I struggled a lot with taking accurate notes or understanding concepts. I started supplementing my math lessons and weekly tutoring with free math websites that go over various concepts in depth and feature text-based step-by-step tutorials, and saw a noticeable improvement in my grades once I was able to slow down and take additional time to understand topics. Here are my favorite free math websites for low vision students that can be used inside or outside of the classroom.
Desmos calculator
Desmos Calculator is a popular free mainstream calculator application with extensive accessibility support for screen reader users, screen magnification, high contrast displays, and many other popular low vision and nonvisual assistive technology features. Unlike other accessible calculator applications, Desmos does not require any downloads and can be accessed from any internet connected device via the Desmos website, though Desmos applications are available for download on Android and iOS devices as well. I prefer to use the Desmos calculator application on my computer or in my tablet’s web browser while working on online math assignments.
RELATED LINKS
- Desmos Calculator website
- Desmos Accessibility documentation
- How To Make Things On The Board Easier To See
- How Amazon Alexa Can Help You Study For Exams
- Five Accessible Calculator Apps For Low Vision
Khan Academy
I can’t talk about free math websites without mentioning Khan Academy. Khan Academy offers resources for math in grades 6-12, though I find myself using the website frequently for concepts covered in my college math classes. There are also categories for science, engineering, computing, humanities, economics, test prep, and even college resources. The website is filled with captioned videos that are easy to follow, along with written explanations and practice problems. I usually stream Khan Academy videos to my Chromecast while I work on the computer, or follow along with a transcript.
Khan Academy pairs well with assistive technology such as screen readers and screen magnification, and I complete the practice problems on my tablet so I can adjust the viewing angle more easily.
Related links
- Math | Khan Academy
- How I Use Google Chromecast With Low Vision
- Recording Video Lectures For Visually Impaired Students
- How I Take Notes During Video Lectures With Low Vision
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Tablets
PurpleMath
One of my professors recommended PurpleMath for studying for the math placement test, as it has a ton of resources for high school and college algebra and pre-algebra classes. PurpleMath primarily uses text-based tutorials with some videos, and primarily uses a single-column layout to display text and step-by-step instructions. Another feature of PurpleMath is that it has study guides for various standardized tests and exams like the SAT, ACT, and CLEP, as well as state-specific resources, though I have not used these myself.
To further reduce visual clutter from ads or multi-column layouts, I like to use a simplified reading display like Immersive Reader to read tutorials on PurpleMath in large print without relying on magnification. Immersive Reader also has a built-in text-to-speech feature that can read equations as well.
Related links
- Algebra Clearly Explained in Free Online Lessons | Purplemath
- SAT Accommodations for Low Vision
- ACT Accommodations For Low Vision
- CLEP Exams and Low Vision
- SOL Test Accommodations And Low Vision
- How I Use Microsoft Immersive Reader With Low Vision
Cool Math
Almost every middle school student (or former student) can tell you about how awesome Cool Math Games is, but I’m personally a huge fan of Cool Math itself. The original Cool Math website is filled with so many great explanations of math concepts related to pre-algebra, algebra, and pre-calculus/trigonometry. The website has a high-contrast theme and large, bold text that can be accessed with a screen reader, text-to-speech, or other assistive technologies. Images and graphs can be enlarged by opening the images in a new tab, though some may seem blurry when magnified. Cool Math has a high-contrast dark display by default, though users can invert the colors on their display to view it with a light background.
RELATED LINKS
- Cool Math website
- How To Use High Contrast in Windows 10 and Windows 11
- High Contrast and Low Vision
- How To Use Invert Colors With Low Vision
- How To Create An Accessible Formula Sheet
- Windows Magnifier and Low Vision
Kate’s Math Lessons
Kate’s Math Lessons is another free website that covers Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry, and explains concepts through videos, text, and practice problems. I use the website with browser zoom and/or screen magnification and it worked well for studying for a community college math placement test.
Related links
- Kate’s Math Lessons – Online Math Resources for Teachers & Students (katesmathlessons.com)
- How To Get Disability Accommodations In Community College
- ALEKS Accessibility For Visual Impairment
- Seven Unexpected Disability Accommodations For Virtual Learning
WolframAlpha
Wolfram Alpha is like a cross between an encyclopedia, a calculator, and a search engine. While it can be used for several different things, I like using it for math, and it is available for math at all levels, from middle school all the way to college. I can enter math problems and see how they are solved, and have the answer displayed on a graph as well. Answers can be read and copied in plain text, which is helpful for screen reader users, and the answers can also be downloaded. The pro function is available for $5 a month and acts as a virtual tutor, going over problems step by step. While this website can’t be used as a substitute for a calculator, it’s great for understanding how math concepts work.
Related links
- Wolfram|Alpha: Computational Intelligence (wolframalpha.com)
- Wolfram|Alpha Voluntary Product Accessibility Template
Microsoft Copilot (formerly Math Solver)
Microsoft Copilot is an AI tool that offers the same step-by-step instructions for working through math problems as Microsoft Math Solver, which was retired in July 2025. While this is not a substitute for a calculator, it is helpful for breaking down math problems step-by-step, and math notation can be read with a screen reader. Microsoft Math Solver also lives on through OneNote’s Math Assistant tool, which can also provide step-by-step instructions.
Related links
- Microsoft Math for Education – Math Problem Solver & Calculator
- MyLab Math Accessibility and Low Vision
- How I Use WebAssign With Low Vision
- How I Use Microsoft OneNote With Low Vision
Quizlet
Quizlet allows users to create their own digital flashcards and study guides, or search for other study resources by topic. Since traditional digital flashcard studying doesn’t work well with math, I will set up a free response quiz with the Learn tool and work out math problems on a digital or physical whiteboard, or in another application. Quizlet displays really well with large print and has been an amazing resource for a lot of my college classes.
Related links
- How I Use Quizlet With Low Vision
- How Amazon Alexa Can Help You Study For Exams
- How I Use Microsoft Whiteboard With Low Vision
- Assistive Technology For Dysgraphia
More free math websites and resources for visually impaired math
- Five Accessible Calculator Apps For Low Vision
- How To Create An Accessible Formula Sheet
- Math Test Accommodations For Low Vision
- Brainfuse Online Tutoring and Low Vision Accessibility
- Choosing A Tutor For Low Vision Students
- All About The National Homework Hotline For Blind And Visually Impaired Students
- No-Tech Solutions For Drawing Graphs With Low Vision And Dysgraphia
- Adapting Accessible Z-Tables: Math Problems and Low Vision
Published February 12, 2018. Updated September 2025