It’s a familiar moment in any baking competition: the cake or bread didn’t rise properly, and the baker is faced with a decision. Do they make it work, or start over? The baker has to consider the time left in the competition, how important this element is to the final product, and whether it’s worth sacrificing the decorative layers for a stronger foundation.

Learning design isn’t so different. When aiming for accessible and inclusive design, choosing between remediation and redesign is an important decision. Do you update what you already have, or start fresh from the ground up? Making your learning content more accessible doesn’t always mean starting over, but it can be better than layering on patches to meet compliance. In our experience, both approaches can be effective, depending on the context.

Remediation: Focused & Time-Sensitive

Remediation can be a smart, focused approach when you’re working under a tight timeline or need to address specific issues flagged in an audit. For example, universities may be running compliance checks on courses and third-party websites for targeted remediation. When these changes are limited to presentation or functionality, such as fixing color contrast, adjusting text hierarchy, or adding alt text and captions, they can be addressed without affecting the learning strategy. When the issues affect a key component of “how” information is being taught, remediation becomes more complicated and more costly. This is especially true on larger, multi-module projects, where remediation is harder. You risk compromising the integrity of the learning experience for the sake of compliance, and it can lead to a layering of fixes that further complicate, rather than simplify, overall accessibility.

A client working on a youth agriculture education project in Articulate Rise sought to improve accessibility without losing the original interactivity. Following an audit, we implemented small but meaningful updates—adding transcripts to podcast episodes, captioning talking-head videos with descriptive context, and improving the readability of text placed on images. These changes allowed them to improve accessibility without a full rebuild.

Redesign: Purposeful & Comprehensive

Redesign is a wise investment when a course has been updated repeatedly or if learning materials include a multitude of inaccessible visuals and media. For example, demonstration videos with non-descriptive narration or screenshotted flowcharts may be used to deliver content, and layering on extra supports is less effective (and potentially more cumbersome to the learner) than redesigning the media itself. Redesign also aligns well with content already due for revision, so you can tackle both content updates and accessible design at the same time. While redesign efforts can range in scope and are a larger investment than remediation, they offer the advantage of addressing root design issues with best practices in accessibility, positioning equal access as a key indicator of success.

A client with a large learning library of over 120 modules will need to meet ADA Title II compliance by April 2026. Rather than simply remediate, Vivayic is partnering with this organization to revisit the template, functionality, and selective learning strategies that need foundational updating to meet accessibility standards. This comprehensive review contributes to the long-term viability of these modules and leverages learner empathy.

Choosing Wisely

Along with considerations on budget, timelines, resources, scope, and feasibility, it is vital to keep learner needs front and center. This isn’t only about meeting compliance, it’s about improving access. We like to follow thought leaders like Diane Elkins, Sarah Mercier, and other contributors to Design For All Learners because their insights are learner-focused, and after all, isn’t that what instructional design is all about?

As you consider your learning content, ask yourself:

• If your course weren’t under a compliance deadline, would you still be satisfied with its current learning design?
• How often do your courses typically get updated? Could now be the right time to invest in a future-proof, accessible template?
• What are the hidden costs of not addressing accessibility until the next revision cycle?
• Could a hybrid approach—remediating where you must, and redesigning where you can—help balance risk, effort, and impact?

Based on these answers, remember that remediation offers a route to compliance that can accommodate tight deadlines or limited budget and scope. However, when working within the constraints of an existing design, there may be trade-offs in instructional quality or learner experience. If remediation is necessary, we encourage framing it as “Phase 1” knowing there is more work to be done. Aim to develop a clear plan that tackles redesign for the future. When you’re ready to redesign, remember that it provides an opportunity to fully align accessibility and learning design from the start. It may require more time and investment up front, but it results in a stronger, more sustainable solution that can adapt to evolving WCAG standards and new software capabilities.

Vivayic is ready to help you discern what works best to improve access for learners while honoring your current resources and needs. Set up a Discovery Call or check out our previous articles about What L&D Agenda Movers Should Know and Four L&D Scenarios to understand the impact of the ADA Title II ruling.