Learner Access through

Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

Katie Richards – Director of Student SuccessChris Gonnella – Director of Instructional Design and Technology Joseph Mehus – Assistant Professor of Biology

Is this sidewalk

accessible?

Accessible to whom, for what purpose?

Is this course

accessible?

Accessible to whom, for what purpose?

Many Sources Available: Americans with Disabilities Act (ada.gov), University of Washington’s Do-It program, The World Health Organization, WebAIM

We need to understand what it means for something to be accessible and what barriers to accessibility exist.

We need a common understanding of what it means to be disabled.

Accessibility Regulations & Guidelines The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

Title II – prohibits disability discrimination by public entities (local and state) Title III – prohibits disability discrimination by commercial entities and public

accommodations – equal enjoyment of goods, services, facilities etc. ADA Amendment Act in 2008 – gives civil rights protections to individuals with

disabilities and guarantees equal opportunity in public accommodations, employment, education, etc. The ADA redefined what it means to be disabled. More people are protected under federal nondiscrimination laws.

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Section 504 – equal access for people with disabilities Section 508 amendment in 1998

Mandates that federal agencies make electronic information accessible to members of the public and employees with disabilities.

Universities are federally required to make accommodations for disabled individuals.

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A person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities…

Definition of Disability American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Types of Disabilities Cognitive or Learning Disabilities – Example: Dyslexia, traumatic brain

injuries, autism. Access Barrier: Timed participation may be difficult

Auditory Disabilities – Example: mild, moderate, severe, or profound hearing loss Access Barrier: Videos may lack captions.

Visual Disabilities – Example: low vision, color blindness, legal blindness Access Barrier: Web sites and electronic documents may not be accessible by

keyboard. Videos may lack audio descriptions. Motor Disabilities – Example: Arthritis, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injury

Access Barrier: websites with user interfaces that require small buttons Invisible Disabilities – Example: Anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD

Access Barrier: Need different levels of support on different days.

What is an access barrier?

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Access Barriers are factors in a person’s environment that, through their absence or presence, limit functioning and create disability. These include aspects such as:

• A physical environment that is not accessible

• Lack of relevant assistive technology (assistive, adaptable, and rehabilitative devices).

• Negative attitudes of people towards disability,services, systems and policies that are either nonexistent or that hinder the involvement of all people with a health condition in all areas of life.

Definition of Access BarrierThe World Health Organization (WHO)

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Accessibility describes whether a product or service can be ‘accessed’ by people with disabilities.

(in some cases, the definition includes people with all abilities).

Definition is a compilation

Just as physical barriers exist in our physical environment…

Curricular barriers exist in our instructional environments.

Potential curricular barriers:Textbooks, lectures, workbooks, chapter questions,

websites and student work at the board

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The design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation [modification] or specialized design.

Definition of Universal DesignThe Center for Universal Design in Education (UDE)

What is modification?

…change WHAT the student learns …can give the student an advantage

over other students, …means altering a fundamental aspect

of the course …could weaken academic rigor

Reasonable Accommodations Are provided to ensure equal access to

educational opportunity.

Unreasonable Accommodations Poses a direct threat to the health or safety of

others Makes a substantial change in the essential

element of the curriculum Makes a substantial alteration in the manner

in which the service is provided Poses an undue financial or administrative

burden

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Benefits all students including those with disabilities and extraordinary abilities.

Description of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

The Center for Universal Design in Education (UDE)

UDL is a design framework A set of principles for curriculum

development that give all individuals equal opportunities to learn

UDL is a flexible approach that can be customized and adjusted for individual needs. Because no two learners are alike

Is this sidewalk accessible?

…but not others

Tactile paving makes access equal

Benefits all

people

Benefits all

people

Universal Design for the

Physical Environment

Examples of Curricular Barriers

Potential Barriers Challenges and Opportunities Consequences and Results

Benefits all students including those with disabilities and extraordinary abilities.

Potential Barriers Challenges and Opportunities Consequences and Results

Benefits all students including those with disabilities and extraordinary abilities. Universal Design for the

Curricular Environment

Potential Barriers Challenges and Opportunities Consequences and Results

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Deliberate design for variability to give equal access to learning

Provide Multiple Methods of …Representatio

nAction & Expression

Engagement

CAST (2011). Universal Design for Learning Guidelines version 2.0. Wakefield, MA: Author.

Three primary principles guide UDL

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Deliberate design for variability to give equal access to learning

Questions?