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April 23, 2025 | blog

How AristAI Is Making Video Accessibility Affordable in Higher Education

By Anushree Raipat, Dr. Jiheng Jing, and AristAI Accessibility Team

10 min read April 23rd, 2025

As universities rely more on video for teaching and communication, ensuring accessibility for all learners is essential to equity and compliance. With the innovative AristAI Accessibility Suite, institutions can now automate and scale video accessibility with an affordable, 60% cheaper solution compared to traditional approaches. Our cutting-edge technology delivers accurate captions, descriptive transcripts, audio descriptions, and an accessible media player—all while keeping costs at a fraction of the price.

The Non-Negotiable Case for Video Accessibility

In today’s digital learning environment, as universities increasingly rely on video for lectures, research dissemination, and institutional communication, ensuring equitable access for all learners is non-negotiable. This includes students who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, blind, or have low vision, who depend on accessible design to engage fully with content. Moreover, budget constraints demand that accessibility solutions be not only robust but also exceptionally affordable. With AristAI, you get a platform that is more than 60%cheaper than conventional methods, ensuring that inclusion doesn’t break the bank.

For instance:

  • Learners with hearing disabilities require accurate captions to access spoken dialogue and auditory cues.
  • Those with visual impairments need transcripts and audio descriptions to interpret on-screen visuals like charts, animations, or demonstrations.

These needs are covered by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), created by W3C. The framework outlines three compliance tiers:

  1. Level A: Basic requirements (e.g., captions, text alternatives), mandated by laws like the ADA.
  2. Level AA: The standard for most institutions (e.g., audio description), often required for public funding.
  3. Level AAA: The highest tier (e.g., extended audio descriptions, media alternatives), exceeding legal mandates to prioritize inclusivity.

By aligning with these standards, institutions move beyond compliance—they commit to dismantling barriers and fostering environments where every student can learn, participate, and succeed.

How AristAI Overcomes Video Accessibility Challenges

Meeting WCAG standards for video accessibility is a complex, resource-heavy challenge for universities. The AristAI Accessibility Suite transforms these compliance hurdles into scalable, automated solutions—freeing your team from manual tasks while ensuring every student is included.

Here’s how AristAI addresses each core challenge:

Captions

The Challenge: Manual captioning is slow, costly, and error-prone—yet missing captions can exclude large segments of your student population.

AristAI’s Solution:

  • 99%+ Accuracy through advanced AI models
  • Speaker Identification for clarity in dialogues
  • Sound Effect Captions for non-speech elements like music or ambiance
  • Multi-Language Support to reach international and multilingual audiences
  • Soft-Embedded Captions that can be toggled without affecting video quality

WCAG Compliance:

✅ Captions (Prerecorded) – Level A

See It in Action: Experience live demos and see how AristAI automates accurate, accessible captioning—so your institution stays compliant without the overhead.

Descriptive Transcripts

The Challenge: Traditional transcripts don’t serve blind or low-vision users. Descriptive ones require detailed, manual review—slowing production and increasing cost.

AristAI’s Solution:

  • Standard & Extended Descriptions of all key visuals
  • Comprehensive Audio Transcripts capturing dialogue, sounds, and tone
  • Multi-Language Support for diverse learning communities
  • Built-in Accessibility Features like screen-reader compatibility, timestamp navigation, and WCAG-compliant formatting

WCAG Compliance:

✅ Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) – Level A

✅ Media Alternative (Prerecorded) – Level AAA

See It in Action: Let us show you how descriptive transcripts can be generated in minutes—not days—without compromising accessibility.

Audio Descriptions

The Challenge: Adding real-time narration for visual content demands production resources most universities don’t have.

AristAI’s Solution:

  • Standard or Extended Descriptions depending on content complexity
  • Inline or Optional Narration styles to suit different needs
  • Multi-Language Support for global access
  • Custom Voice Options to match content tone and branding

WCAG Compliance:

✅ Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded) – Level A

✅ Audio Description (Prerecorded) – Level AA

✅ Extended Audio Description (Prerecorded) – Level AAA

See It in Action: Request a demo to hear how we add rich, accessible narration—without extra burden on your media teams.

Accessible Media Player

The Challenge: Many players fall short of full accessibility, leading to fragmented experiences and compliance risks.

AristAI’s Solution:

  • Multi-Language Captions, Transcripts, and Audio Describer built directly into the player
  • Interactive Transcript Navigation for enhanced engagement
  • WAI-Aligned Accessibility Hub built to W3C standards
  • User-Controlled Audio Descriptions that adapt to individual preferences

WCAG Compliance Coverage:

✅ Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) – Level A

✅ Captions (Prerecorded) – Level A

✅ Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded) – Level A

✅ Audio Description (Prerecorded) – Level AA

✅ Extended Audio Description (Prerecorded) – Level AAA

✅ Media Alternative (Prerecorded) – Level AAA

See It in Action: Let us show you how our accessible media player elevates learning while keeping your university fully aligned with WCAG standards.

Don’t Let Your Institution Fall Behind

Video accessibility is no longer optional—it’s a strategic imperative. Institutions that lead in inclusion are also leading in student engagement, retention, and reputation. Falling short on WCAG compliance risks not only non-conformance but also alienating students, damaging credibility, and incurring legal exposure.AristAI transforms video accessibility from a financial and operational burden into a breakthrough solution.

By automating compliance with WCAG 2.2 (Levels A, AA, and AAA) through highly accurate captions, audio descriptions, and descriptive transcripts, our platform ensures that even the most advanced accessibility requirements are met at a cost that is 60% cheaper than traditional methods.

Built for educators, trusted by students, and compatible with any LMS (including Canvas), the AristAI Accessibility Suite empowers your institution to move fast, stay ahead, and deliver true inclusion—all while preserving your financial resources.

The future of accessible learning is already here. The only question is: will your institution lead or lag?

Contact us today for a live demo and discover how AristAI gives your university a lasting edge in accessibility, innovation, and impact.

About AristAI

AristAI is committed to meeting the evolving needs of colleges and universities. Our comprehensive suite of tools addresses pressing concerns around student support and accessibility:

  • AI Teaching Assistants Our AI solutions—like the 24/7 AI Tutor—provide instant support to students by answering questions, clarifying concepts, and offering resources. Instructors benefit by offloading routine inquiries, freeing them to focus on higher-level teaching responsibilities and personalized guidance.
  • AI Accessibility Detector & Remediator This tool automatically scans and remediates course materials—including videos, documents, and LMS-hosted content—to ensure compliance with accessibility standards. By making learning materials more inclusive, we help institutions avoid legal pitfalls and, more importantly, foster equal opportunities for all students.

Colleges and universities are under ever-increasing pressure to demonstrate the value and outcomes of the education they provide. Balancing tight budgets with high expectations for quality, accessibility, and innovation can be challenging. AristAI addresses these needs head-on by:

  • Enhancing Student Engagement With instant, personalized feedback and support, AI Teaching Assistants keep learners motivated and on track—improving retention and success rates.
  • Ensuring Compliance and Inclusivity Our AI Accessibility Detector & Remediator ensures your institution’s materials meet ADA and other regulatory standards, protecting you from costly compliance issues and fostering a culture of inclusion.
  • Streamlining Faculty Workloads By taking on repetitive tasks, AI tools free up valuable time for educators, allowing them to focus on what they do best: teaching, mentoring, and innovating.

This marks the end of our 2nd blog in our series on the AristAI Accessibility Suite, and we’re eager to hear your thoughts.Ready to experience the future of higher education?

Contact us at support@aristai.io to set up your customized AristAI Tutor and discover how it can revolutionize your educational experience.

If the world of AI excites you as much as it does us, join us on this journey—we’re just getting started, and your input is invaluable!

Author: Anushree Raipat

I'm a Product Analyst at AristAI, merging analytical expertise with a passion for education to build transformative solutions that bridge traditional teaching and modern technology.