The following is posted on the National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center's website: http://www.nectac.org/topics/atech/udl.asp
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an approach to teaching, learning, curriculum development and assessment that uses new technologies to respond to a variety of individual learner differences. IDEA 2004 defines Universal design using the same definition as the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended, 29 U.S.C. 3002. (34CFR§ 300.44):
(Section 3(19)of Assistive Technology Act as amended in 2004)
One central idea of UDL is that as new curricular materials and learning technologies are developed, they should be designed from the beginning to be flexible enough to accommodate the unique learning styles of a wide range of individuals, including children with disabilities. Some examples of UDL include: accessible Web pages; electronic versions of textbooks and other curricular materials; captioned and/or narrated videos; word processors with word prediction; speaking spell checkers; talking dialog boxes; voice recognition; and picture menus.
UDL does not eliminate the need for assistive technology. Children with disabilities will continue to need AT devices such as communication aids, visual aids, wheelchairs, orthoses and adapted toys in order to interact more fully with their environment. However, building accessibility into new technologies and curricular materials as they are developed will help to ensure the maximal inclusion of children with disabilities into the full array of learning opportunities that are available to all children.
