The document discusses physical disabilities, universal design for learning (UDL), and assistive technologies. UDL aims to make curricula accessible to all students by incorporating multiple means of representation, engagement, and expression. It is needed because students have widely varying abilities. Assistive technologies can help those with physical impairments access computers and digital information by providing alternative input and output methods. UDL ensures that pedagogical approaches are also accessible to support learning for all.

1. Physical Disabilities and UDL Sheena McDaniel EDET 735 Spring 2011

2. The purpose of this multimedia project is to explore some of the assistive technology available for individuals with physical disabilities. We will also take a look at how , UDL ensures each individual has the opportunity to learn challenging concepts in the most effective ways possible. UDL curricula are built with the special needs of a wide variety of individuals in mind.

3. What are Physical Disabilities? Physical impairment refers to a broad range of disabilities which include orthopedic, neuromuscular, cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders. People with these disabilities often must rely upon assertive devices such as wheelchairs, crutches, canes, and artificial limbs to obtain mobility.

4. (Con't) The physical disability may either be congenital or a result of injury, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, amputation, & heart disease. Some persons may have hidden (nonvisible) disabilities which include respiratory disorders, epilepsy and other limiting conditions.

5. Access Issues Inability to gain access to inaccessible building or room. Decreased eye-hand coordination. Impaired verbal communication. Decreased physical stamina and endurance.

6. What is UDL (Universal Design for Learning)? Multiple Means of Representation Engagement Expression

7. What is UDL? Universal Design for Learning, or UDL, is defined as a flexible curriculum and learning environment that allows students with widely varying abilities and backgrounds the opportunity to access the general curriculum and achieve the academic content standards that have been established for all students

8. The Need for UDL • Highly diverse population of learners - Visual - Kinesthetic - Auditory - Different background knowledge - ESL • Curriculum is the same for all

9. Assistive Technology and UDL Assistive technology goes beyond mobility devices to also include hardware, software, and other information technologies. Individuals with physically impaired hands or fingers can utilize custom designed keyboards and computer mice to operate computers. Individuals with moderate to severe visual impairments can likewise overcome their unique sensory deprivation with software that reads digitally displayed messages aloud, like emails and other lines of text on a computer.

10. Physical Disabilities and UDL While providing accessible spaces and materials is often essential to learning, it is not sufficient. Success requires that the components of pedagogy— the techniques, methods, scaffolds, and processes that are embedded in classrooms and curricula—are also accessible, and that the measure of their success is learning.

11. Conclusion Essentially a physical disability is anything that affects a person’s motor skills be it a limb, muscle, or nerve. Universal design is the big umbrella that makes more things usable for those individuals.