Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

Universal design for learning (UDL) is based on originally an architectural idea/term.  With the passage of the Rehabilitation Act (Click here for the link to where I describe it in detail), buildings were required to be somewhat accessible for people with disabilities.  So, the idea of universal design (UD) was created for the field of architecture.  It basically said that rather than create objects and THEN go and work on modifications of those objects so that people with disabilities can use them, create them FIRST with the idea of being used by everyone.  In short, UD is characterized by thinking about an object or building and how you can design it so that everyone, both able bodied and those with disabilities, can use it.

The example that my professor used, and I really liked this, was in some YMCAs they are creating a no-drop pool.  A no-drop pool is a pool that is like a beach in that it gradually moves into the water, it is basically a ramp.  With this UD, every person, including those in wheelchairs can use the pool.  A non-example of UD is a regular pool that has one of those machines that lowers the person into the water.  This is not UD because able-bodied people can just jump in, therefore there is a stigma to using this device.

So I have been talking about UD, now what is UDL you ask?  That is an excellent question.  Think about the truest concept of UD that I just talked about.  Creating things with persons with disabilities in mind.  Now move that idea over to learning and creating curriculum's.  For instance, let's say that you want to have a group discussion time and that you want to have it on the rug.  You find out four months in advance that you have a student who is in a wheelchair.  If you had universally designed your curriculum, then this would not be an issue.  But now it is an issue, do you wish to have the student feel excluded because they are in a wheelchair and can't sit down on the rug like everyone else?

A wonderful question, and I hope that you are asking yourself this, is "What can I then do for the rug thing?  How can I include that student?"  To universally design your classroom, instead of having the students sit on the rug, have them sit in chairs in a circle and talk.  Then the student in the wheelchair can still participate and everyone is sitting up on chairs.