A major educational institution sought to modernize its digital accessibility practices by migrating its existing Universal Design Online Content Inspection Tool (UDOIT) accessibility tool from an outdated on-premises setup, to a cloud-based infrastructure in AWS. This transition enabled the institution to use the latest version of UDOIT, which presented significant challenges due to limited documentation and minimal external resources.
Although the UDOIT project, an open-source initiative by the University of Central Florida (UCF), is generally hosted by a third-party company for deployment, hosting, and management, this institution opted for an independent, self-managed solution, allowing their small team to control the setup and documentation for future scalability and adaptability.
The Solution
In line with the client’s requirements and objectives, Unicon supported the migration of UDOIT to the AWS cloud, providing a stable, scalable environment optimized for accessibility and performance. Key elements of the solution included:
- Cloud-Hosted Solution: Unicon configured UDOIT on AWS, implementing Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs), secure subnets, and an Application Load Balancer to enhance stability and performance.
- Seamless Integration with LMS: UDOIT was integrated directly into the institution’s Canvas LMS, allowing instructors to assess and improve content accessibility without needing additional software. This integration enabled a streamlined workflow for identifying and addressing accessibility gaps.
- Real-Time Accessibility Insights: The UDOIT application allowed instructors and administrators to run accessibility checks, providing immediate feedback and remediation suggestions. This feature empowered instructors to improve accessibility proactively.
- Automated Monitoring and Security: The AWS deployment included continuous monitoring and automated security configurations to ensure system reliability and data protection.
The Results
Migrating UDOIT to AWS brought substantial benefits, aligning with the institution’s long-term digital accessibility goals:
- Improved Accessibility Compliance: The UDOIT integration led to higher accessibility levels across digital content, creating a more inclusive learning environment for students with diverse needs.
- Empowered Instructors with Actionable Insights: Instructors received valuable insights into accessibility issues with practical suggestions, enabling ongoing content improvements.
- Enhanced Operational Efficiency: The cloud-hosted solution on AWS minimized downtime and provided reliable performance, even during peak usage periods.
- Cost-Effective and Scalable Infrastructure: With AWS, the institution avoided significant on-premises infrastructure costs, achieving a scalable solution capable of managing increased accessibility demands.
Conclusion
Through its partnership with Unicon, the institution successfully transitioned UDOIT to a cloud-based environment, allowing them to address accessibility requirements proactively and sustainably. This setup aligns with their mission of supporting an inclusive learning environment, and equips them with a robust framework for ongoing accessibility improvements.
