Scheduled at 11:15 am in Mattie Silks on Wednesday, November 19.
#41162Speaker(s)
- Vijayshree Vethantham, Senior Vice-President, Growth & Strategy, Continual Engine US LLC
Session Details
- Length of Session: 1-hr
- Format: Lecture
- Expertise Level: All Levels
- Type of session: General Conference
Summary
Explore multiple strategies to scale PDF remediation in higher education, backed by real-world success stories. Learn how PREP automates over 90% of tagging—including tables, lists, and structure, in seconds. Discover features like instant alt text, screen reader output for issue detection, and in-built compliance checks. With multilingual support and tools supporting learning needs, discover how institutions are streamlining workflows, cutting costs, and building inclusive campuses with PREP.
Abstract
Higher education institutions struggle with making learning materials accessible, from syllabi to complex STEM content. While Title II updated mandates require higher levels of accessible formats, manual remediation is inadequate, while semi-automated tools offer inconsistent results. In this session, we will provide multiple scalable approaches to document accessibility, supported by real-world success stories—including use-cases of leading HEIs that remediated thousands of course materials with faster turnaround time using PREP.
We will introduce Document Remediation 3.0, a new phase in accessibility workflows, where we will walk through these - -PREP is cloud-based, allowing users to log in from anywhere, upload documents, and automate over 90% of tagging in seconds, reducing manual effort. -PREP integrates directly with platforms like Canvas and D2L’s Brightspace, allowing instructors to remediate course files without leaving the LMS. Files are auto-tagged and returned instantly to the course folder. -PREP allows auto-generation of image descriptions in just seconds, from simple to complex visuals like graphs, charts, and maps. -PREP offers a unique feature that generates screen reader output for every page, helping users detect verbose, repetitive, or missing content early. -PREP auto-detects headers, data cells, and complex table structures, with a Preview tab for reviewing screen reader accuracy. -Users can validate against WCAG 2.2 AA and PDF/UA using PREP’s inbuilt checker, with direct links to relevant WCAG guidelines for contextual clarity. -Complimentary onboarding sessions cover both PREP usage and remediation best practices, helping institutions get up to speed quickly.
This session will help you learn practical knowledge of scalable remediation workflows, insights from institutional implementations, and strategies for adopting hybrid automation-expert models to accelerate digital accessibility across their campuses.
Keypoints
- Learn multiple remediation strategies, from automated workflows to human expert-assisted approaches, for scale
- Explore how PREP detects accessibility issues early with screen reader previews and real-time checks
- Understand how leading education institutions remediated STEM and non-STEM content quickly and affordably
Disability Areas
All Areas, Cognitive/Learning, Vision
Topic Areas
Accessible Course Design, Alternate Format, Artificial Intelligence, Assistive Technology, Legal, Teaching about Accessibility in Curriculum, Uncategorized
Speaker Bio(s)
Vijayshree Vethantham
Vijayshree (“VJ”) Vethantham brings over two decades of experience in higher education, learning, and accessibility. Her expertise spans strategic growth, enterprise account management, stakeholder engagement, digital marketing, and business development. She is recognized for transforming pilot initiatives into scalable solutions, identifying new revenue streams, and fostering environments where inclusion and educational equity can thrive.
As part of the founding team of two education-based start-ups, ansrsource and Continual Engine, VJ has built impactful partnerships with large publishers and educational institutions, gaining deep insights into their content and learning goals. She has guided the development of scalable, accessible solutions that transform learning experiences and drive inclusion and educational equity.
VJ’s work focuses on helping a diverse range of organizations—including educational institutions, publishers, corporations, and government entities—make their digital content more inclusive and compliant. Actively engaging with industry leaders and practitioners, she delves into the challenges organizations face in implementing accessibility and compliance measures. This hands-on approach enables her to develop tailored, scalable strategies that align with each client’s unique needs and resources.