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YuJa Panorama Accessibility at CU
Commonwealth University is committed to digital accessibility and inclusive learning. To support this, we are adopting YuJa Panorama, an accessibility tool available to all faculty, staff, and students.
What is YuJa Panorama?
YuJa Panorama improves the accessibility of digital content by:
- Scanning documents automatically for accessibility issues.
- Providing real-time feedback and assistance improving accessibility of materials.
- Offering alternative formats (audio, ePub, electronic braille, immersive reader) for diverse learning needs.
- Panorama integrates with Brightspace and is also available as a standalone platform (DocHub) for converting materials outside of Brightspace.
Why It Matters
YuJa Panorama
- Supports CU’s compliance with federal digital accessibility requirements and the upcoming compliance deadline of April 24, 2026.
- Enhances teaching, learning, and communication across the university.
Benefits for Students:
- Access alternative formats instantly in Brightspace.
- Convert your own study materials for flexible learning.
Benefits for Faculty/Staff:
- View accessibility scores and diagnostics in D2L or DocHub.
- Get actionable fixes to improve PDFs, Word, PowerPoint, and more.
- Use Panorama DocHub to check syllabi, forms, reports, and departmental documents.
Timeline for Implementation
Winter 2025
YuJa Panorama will be enabled in all scannable Brightspace course shells.
- A course is scannable by Panorama when its start and end dates fall within one year of the current date, or else when it has been recently accessed. For courses outside this scope, please request Panorama access by reaching out to CATS at cats@commonwealthu.edu.
Students will have access to alternative formats in Content, while faculty will have access to remediation tools in their courses.
CATS will provide YuJa Panorama workshops to assist faculty with remediation of course materials. A kickoff training event is scheduled with YuJa for December 17, 2025 at 12pm, noon, EST.
Spring 2026
CATS will continue to provide workshops on Panorama as well as training focused on digital accessibility in general.
New Summer and Fall course shells will gain access to Panorama.
April 24, 2026 is the federal deadline for compliance. Course content for Spring and upcoming Summer and Fall should meet new federal guidelines. Content that has not been remediated to meet standards should be unlinked from Content until remediation of content can occur.
YuJa Panorama Training
CATS Videos: COMING SOON
Self Help:
Activate YuJa in a Course: https://helpdesk.commonwealthu.edu/TDClient/66/Portal/KB/ArticleDet?ID=20658
Live Training: Please review the Commonwealth University monthly training calendar for upcoming dates/times for Panorama and accessibility trainings.
FAQs
Do I need to enable Panorama in my course?
No, Panorama will be automatically enabled in your courses that are open, accessed, and within a year of the start/end date of the course. Courses outside of this scope will require a request to CATS.
Can I use it outside of Brightspace?
Yes, you can use the DocHub to check digital content outside of Brightspace. (Working with YuJa to implement this feature.)
Who can review Accessibility Reports?
Only faculty and admins can see reports generated by YuJa.
How can I find the Accessibility Report in Brightspace?
In your course navigation, click Resources, then Panorama.
How will I know if my content is accessible?
Each file in D2L displays a small colored gauge (red, orange, green). Clicking it shows your accessibility score and step-by-step improvement suggestions.
Does this replace me having to make my content accessible?
No. Panorama is a tool that can assist us with remediation of content, but it does not remove the responsibility of creating and providing accessible course materials. Continue to review your materials and take a proactive approach to creating new content.
Does Panorama scan and help me remediate everything in my course?
No. Panorama will scan visible course content items and documents attached to assignments. It will NOT scan files in Manage Files that are not linked in Content, or quiz questions. These areas will require your review. CATS recommends removing files from Manage Files that are not linked in Content, as well as any files that are out of date or not in use. This will reduce your footprint in Brightspace and help you keep course materials current.
What can I do about video content?
Panorama does not scan video content, so you will need to review your video content. Zoom recordings include captions, and Mediasite allows you to generate captions or add them from other sources. Brightspace Media Library generates both captions and transcripts right in Brightspace. CATS recommends reviewing these auto-generated captions and transcripts to ensure they are accurate. You can modify captions and transcripts in Zoom, Mediasite, and Media Library.
Who can I contact for support?
If you need help with YuJa Panorama or accessibility in Brightspace, contact CATS at cats@commonwealthu.edu.