Using Panorama’s Structural Remediation Feature to Fix Complex Accessibility and Structural Issues in Files

Panorama offers Structural Remediation as an option to fix complex accessibility issues in PDFs, as well as Word and PowerPoint documents. This feature is available in Panorama in Brightspace, as well as in DocHub outside of Brightspace.

A Note About Working with PDFs

Panorama allows you to work with PDF documents in a way that is similar to Adobe Acrobat Pro, including reviewing and editing tags and document structure. However, working with tags and other accessibility elements can be challenging, especially if you were not the original author of the document.

Whenever possible, it is recommended to use the document’s native file format, such as HTML, Microsoft Word, or Microsoft PowerPoint, rather than a PDF. Accessibility issues are often easier to identify and fix in these formats, making them more efficient to work with than PDFs.

Structural Remediation in Panorama Can Help to Do the Following:

  • Add tags and a tag structure to PDFs
  • Edit text that has been recognized through optical character recognition (OCR)
  • Convert PDFs to Word documents for simpler remediation
  • Highlight accessibility flags with Guided Remediation

How to Use Structural Remediation

  1. Once you have uploaded a PDF into your course, click the Accessibility Indicator Icon to the right of the file.

    Screenshot of a file interface showing “Somatosensory Book Example” as a PDF document. A red arrow points toward an outlined accessibility icon.
  2. If you have not done any work to remediate this PDF yet, you will likely see only one accessibility issue, that The PDF is untagged. If this is the case, click View 1 Instance.

    Screenshot of an accessibility warning stating “The PDF is untagged.” Notice explains missing structural tags for headings, tables, and alternative text, with a Major severity badge and arrow pointing to “View 1 Instance” link.
  3. Panorama will tell you that the PDF is untagged. Click Fix Issue.

    Screenshot of a PDF accessibility warning indicating an untagged document. A yellow “Major” label, explanatory text about missing headings, tables, and alternative text, plus red arrow pointing to “Fix Issue” link highlight remediation options.
  4. Panorama will give you two options to perform an OCR (optical character recognition) on your PDF. This will provide structure to your PDF and allow all text to be searchable, rather than being formatted as an image in its current form.

    If your PDF contains a combination of images, text, math content, and more, select OCR Overlaid PDF. If the PDF is simply text, select OCR Reconstructed PDF. Then click Select Fix.

    Screenshot of a PDF accessibility issue panel explaining that tagging creates a structured outline for screen readers and assistive technologies. OCR Overlayed PDF is selected, OCR Reconstructed PDF is available, existing PDF text recognition is enabled, and a red arrow points to “Select Fix.”
  5. Then click Apply 1 Fix to Document.

    Screenshot of a PDF accessibility-fix interface showing one selected issue: PDF lacks tags, marked “Major” with one instance. Bottom controls include “Back” and purple-outlined “Apply 1 Fix to Document” button, highlighted by a red downward arrow.
  6. Panorama will perform the OCR and then will display the remaining accessibility issues with your PDF. Click Fix This Document.

    Screenshot of an accessibility audit panel showing Accessibility Score 69% with a gold progress bar and Most Common Issues section. Cards flag insufficient foreground-background contrast and missing alternative text as major issues, while a red arrow points to “Fix This Document” button.
  7. Next, you will be given a few options. This might include AI Assisted Remediation With AutoPilot (currently not available for most users), Guided Remediation With Assistance (you can do this option last), and Launch Structural Remediation Advanced Editor. We will choose this last option.

    Screenshot of document remediation options, offering AI-assisted autopilot, guided assistance, or structural remediation through an advanced editor. Purple Recommended label marks AI-assisted option, red border highlights structural remediation, and lower upload area provides “Choose File” option for a new version.
  8. This will open the Structural Remediation Editor. You will notice that this interface is very similar to editing a tag structure in Adobe Acrobat Pro.

    Document-editor screenshot displays an educational anatomy page titled “Anatomy of the Somatosensory System,” designed to explain sensory receptors and nervous-system structures. Blue section headers, dense explanatory text, pink callout box, labeled skin-and-nerve illustration, caption, and right-side Elements panel with page thumbnails organize content.

Features of the Structural Remediation Editor Explained

Top Menu Bar

Screenshot of an accessibility-editing toolbar with controls for adding elements, grouping elements by pages, displaying reading order, and retagging zones or PDFs. Nine red numbered arrows mark toolbar controls, including two blue toggle switches, utility icons, and Retag Zone and Retag PDF buttons.

  1. Add Elements: Allows you to click and drag to highlight an area in your document that is not tagged. You then have options to define the element type, language, and an option to either use the existing text or to enter text manually if no text exists.

    Screenshot of a PDF accessibility editor’s Element Properties screen for a paragraph. English language is selected, with “Use Existing Text” enabled and “Enter Text Manually” available as an alternative.
  2. Group Elements by Pages: Allows you to navigate through the tag tree in a slightly different manner.
  3. Display Reading Order: Toggles the numerical reading order to be displayed on each tagged item in the document preview.
  4. Preview Reading Order in Plain Text: Allows you to see the reading order for the document in plain text. This can be useful to better understand that the reading order is correct for screen readers.
  5. Discard Changes: Discards all changes that have been made in your current session of Structural Remediation
  6. Save Changes: Saves all changes you have made in your current session of Structural Remediation
  7. Rotate Pages: Allows you to rotate the orientation of any of the pages in the document
  8. AI Retag Zone: Allows you to group selected PDF elements and retag them automatically.

Right Side Panel

  • Elements: Allows you to drag and drop each element to adjust the reading order. Also allows you to edit each element.

    Screenshot of a PDF accessibility panel showing document elements arranged in reading order. Expanded Page 1 lists a div, two Heading 1 items, four Paragraph items, Figure, two Captions, and NonStruct, while Pages 2–4 remain collapsed.
  • Images: Allows you to add and edit alternative text for figures in your document

    Screenshot of an accessibility interface on Images tab, showing Page 1, Page 2, and Page 4 thumbnails with blank “Enter alternative text” fields and Generate buttons. Thumbnails contain technical diagrams, including a red-and-black annotated illustration, a multicolored schematic, and a flowchart with red labels; Bulk Fix Alt Text control appears above.
  • Bookmarks: Allows you to add bookmarks within your document

    Screenshot of a PDF viewer’s Bookmarks tab showing an empty-state illustration with a document, magnifying glass, and plus symbol. Text states, “Your Bookmarks Will Appear Here,” explaining extracted PDF bookmarks will appear here and new bookmarks can be added from Elements tab.

Accessibility Resources