Universal Design for Learning is an educational framework that aims to make instruction and materials accessible to all students, regardless of ability, by providing multiple means of representation, action and expression, and engagement. It involves intentionally designing classrooms, instruction, and products to be usable by all students to the greatest extent possible without needing adaptation. Some ways to implement Universal Design include providing options for language, comprehension, physical action, knowledge expression, and goal setting, as well as strategies to maintain student interest and self-regulation.

1. Universal Design for Learning
Alexandra Fair

2. From the National Center for Universal
Design in Learning….
• The following link describes the basic
principles of Universal Design in architecture
and education.
• The video includes images, audio and subtitles
to be universally accessible to users.
• http://www.udlcenter.org/resource_library/vi
deos/udlcenter/udl

3. Universal design at school
• Universal design is a conscious design of
instruction, places and products “to be usable
by all people, to the greatest extent possible,
without the need for adaptation or specialized
design"
• For teachers this means making education as
accessible as possible for students with
diverse learning needs

4. Implementing Universal Design
Multiple Means of
Representation
• +Options of
language and symbols
+Options for comprehension
Multiple
means of
action/
expression
• Option of Physical action
• Options for expression of
knowledge
• Options for goal setting
Multiple
Means of
Engageme
nt
• Options to capture and
sustain interest
• Options that help students
self regulate

5. Universal Design in Post Secondary
Education
• Its important for all materials used in class to
be accessible for students
• This could mean permitting audio devices in
lectures and showing videos with captions
• The class building itself should be accessible

6. Easy Access for Educators
• Implementing Universal design can be
complicated and time consuming
• Assessing students based on Gardner’s theory
of multiple intelligences can be a good way to
get a sense of students’ learning preferences
• http://www.literacyworks.org/mi/assessment
/findyourstrengths.html

7. Goal of Universal Design
• American Curriculum is structured in a very
specific way, and if students are less successful
they are categorized as disabled or
“struggling” Universal Instruction allows ALL
students to be more actively involved in their
learning