Universal design in education

1. UNIVERSAL
DESIGN
By: Elizabeth Schosker

2. What is universal design?
• Universal design is the idea that buildings, products,
and environments should be accessible to elderly
people, people without disabilities, and people with
disabilities.
• In other words, universal design makes things easier,
safer, and more convenient for everyone –it does
not matter how big, small, old, young they are.

3. How can universal design
be presented in learning?
• Let’s make this clear: there is no such thing as an
average student.
• Universal design is meant to reach out to all
students –including those who struggle in school,
those who excel in school, and those with
disabilities.

4. Successful learners!
• Universal design in learning focuses on making sure
that each and every student has the opportunity to
become a successful learner.
• Learning experiences are designed be universal
and flexible for each individual student.

5. Individuality and learning
is important!
• Designing lessons and experiences for the average
student has never worked well. This is because there
is no average student.
• Questions the universal designers wonder about:
“How does learning really work?” “How and in
which ways does learning differentiate among
individuals?”.
• Researchers have created three principles to help
find the answers to these questions.

6. 3 Principles of Universal
Design in Learning:
1. Provide multiple
means of
representation:
 Make sure every
child can perceive it.
 Make sure every
child understands
way it is represented.
 Provide options for
comprehension.
2. Provide multiple
means of action and
expression:
 Provide options
physical action.
 Provide options for
expression and
fluency.
 Provide options for
executive functions.
3. Provide multiple
means of engagement:
 Provide options for
recruiting interest.
 Provide options for
sustaining effort and
persistence.
 Provide options for
self-regulation.

7. THE END!