How Pepperdine University’s Office of Student Accessibility Transformed PDF Accessibility in Days with TestParty

Location: Malibu, California
Products Featured: TestParty PDF Remediation Tool
Use Case: Automating PDF Accessibility for Students with Disabilities

The Challenge: Manual Remediation Was Time-Consuming and Expensive

Pepperdine University, a premier educational institution with a commitment to academic excellence and student support, saw an opportunity to improve accessibility while evaluating opportunities for low-vision students to engage fully in university life. As a forward looking institution, Pepperdine was constantly looking for better methods of modernizing document remediation processes. They considered using external vendors, who often charged between $3 to $15 per page and took days or weeks to return fully accessible documents. This slow process created delays in providing critical materials for students who relied on assistive technologies.

"Before TestParty, our remediation process was cumbersome and costly. We had to outsource complex documents to third-party vendors, and the turnaround time was often too slow to meet students' needs," said Min Hui Kim, the Office of Student Accessibility’s Assistive Technology Manager.

Additionally, Pepperdine's internal team lacked the dedicated resources to handle the volume of remediation requests, leading to further delays and frustration among faculty and students alike.

The Solution: TestParty's Automated PDF Remediation

Pepperdine needed a faster, more reliable solution for making academic documents accessible. They turned to TestParty’s cutting-edge PDF-to-HTML remediation tool powered by AI, designed to handle complex academic documents such as those with multiple columns and mathematical equations.

TestParty enabled Pepperdine to automate the remediation process, allowing staff to simply upload documents, which were then fully remediated and made accessible in a fraction of the time it took with previous methods. This tool was significantly faster at just 15 - 45 seconds per page and was significantly cheaper at just pennies per page. The tool’s seamless integration into the university’s existing workflow, along with its ability to handle large, complex documents, made it an ideal solution for their needs.

"What really impressed us was TestParty’s ability to manage documents quickly and accurately. The platform wasn’t just a plug-and-play tool—it evolved with our needs, helping us address unique accessibility challenges," noted Min Hui Kim.

The Results: Faster, More Efficient Document Remediation

Since implementing TestParty, Pepperdine University has seen remarkable improvements in both time savings and cost efficiency:

1. Significantly Faster Turnaround: Documents that previously took days to remediate are now accessible in a matter of hours. For example, a 160-page document that once would have required extensive manual work was now remediated and ready for use in less than half a day, with automated notifications sent upon completion.
2. Cutting Accessibility Costs: With TestParty, the university has reduced its reliance on expensive third-party vendors, cutting external costs saving thousands of dollars in outsourced services. This has resulted in thousands of dollars in savings while simultaneously improving the quality and speed of document remediation.
3. Remediated nearly 2,000 pages within the first month which would not have been possible with manual remediation. Typical vendors would have charged $6,000 - $30,000 to manually remediate for $3 - $15 per page.
4. Improved OSA and Faculty adoption: Prior to TestParty faculty did not have an accessibility tool to easily make documents usable for blind or low-vision students. TestParty’s user-friendly interface and integration into existing platforms have led to an increase in faculty using the tool to make course materials accessible. Even professors with limited technical expertise find the process easy and intuitive. "I wanted remediation to be as simple as upload and download, and TestParty delivered exactly that," said Min Hui Kim.
5. Enhanced Student Experience: For low-vision students, TestParty has been transformative. They now receive fully accessible course materials in a timely manner, enabling them to fully participate in their courses without delays. "This tool has given us the ability to provide students with what they need, exactly when they need it. It’s been a game-changer for us," Kim added.

The Conclusion: A New Era of Digital Accessibility at Pepperdine

By adopting TestParty, Pepperdine University Office of Student Accessibility has not only improved its document remediation process but also set a new standard for digital accessibility across its campus. Faculty members are more empowered, students have faster access to the materials they need, and the university is better positioned to meet ADA compliance requirements.

"TestParty has streamlined our entire approach to digital accessibility. We’ve saved time, reduced costs, and most importantly, improved the learning experience for our students," Kim remarked.

As Pepperdine University continues to innovate in the field of accessibility, TestParty remains a crucial partner, ensuring that the university is able to provide timely, accessible materials to every student, regardless of their needs.

Sound Familiar?

If your institution is facing similar challenges with document accessibility, consider TestParty as your solution. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you streamline your accessibility initiatives and enhance the learning experience for all students.