Universal design is a goal and process that creates products and environments usable by all people without need for adaptation. It focuses on diversity and inclusiveness rather than just the average user. The process of universal design involves identifying the application, describing diverse users, involving users, adopting guidelines, applying guidelines, accommodating all users, training others, and evaluating with feedback. Its principles are based on multiple means of representation, action and expression, and engagement so that all can learn and express knowledge through flexible options.

2. What is Universal Design?
 a goal and a process that can be applied to
the design of any product or environment
 creates products and environments that are
“usable by all people, to the greatest extent
possible, without the need for adaptation
or specialized design” rather than simply
focusing on the average user
 because of this, universally designed products
and environments meet the needs of potential
users with a wide variety of characteristics
 puts high value on diversity and inclusiveness

3. What is the Process of Universal Design?
identify the
application you
wish to apply
universal design to
describe the diverse
characteristics of
potential users
involve users of
diverse
characteristics in all
phases in order to
gain their views
adopt guidelines or
standards to apply
to the design
apply guidelines to
overall
design, subcompon
ents, and all
ongoing operations
accommodate for
users who may not
be able to
automatically gain
access
train and support
others in the design
and share
institutional goals
evaluate the design
with a diverse
group of users and
make modifications
based on feedback

4. What are its Principles?
they are based on how the learner:
picks up information
MULTIPLE MEANS OF
REPRESENTATION
so everyone can learn the
information
accomplished by providing
options for perception, language
and symbols, for comprehension
expresses/acts on information
MULTIPLE MEANS OF
ACTION &EXPRESSION
so everyone can display their
knowledge of the information
accomplished by providing
options for physical action, for
expressive skills and fluency, and
for executive functions
is engaged by the learning situation
MULTIPLE MEANS OF
ENGAGEMENT
so students are motivated to
learn
accomplished by providing
options for gaining
interest, sustaining effort and
persistence, and for selfregulation

5. Important Points
There isn't an “average student” anywhere;
universal design makes sure to reach
students who have been marginalized at
either end of the spectrum
The main components of curriculum
that need to be universally designed
are:
goals/standards, materials, methods, an
d assessment
Universal design can be applied to:
curriculum, instruction, career, museums, app
liances, technology, and many more products
or environments
The main purpose is to make sure that
everyone is a successful learner, and even
further, that everyone is an expert learner
Universal design gives the power to be
flexible in allowing choices and different
paths for different students

6. Works Consulted
Burgstahler, S. Universal design: Process, Principles, and Applications. University of Washington.
Retrieved from http://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Programs/ud.html
UDL Center. (2010, March 17). Implementing UDL. National Center on Universal Design and
Learning. [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
vr3ardmq0a0&feature=relmfu
UDL Center. (2010, March 17). The UDL guidelines. National Center on Universal Design and
Learning. [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfsx3DGpv5o
&feature=relmfu
UDL Center. (2010, March 17). UDL: Principles and practice. National Center on Universal Design and
Learning. [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGLTJw0GSxk
&noredirect=1
Universal design: Universal design in action. CEC Today. Retrieved from http://oldsite.cec.sped.org/
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TID=2657