Universal DesignBy Maggie Burke

Image from: http://ecobrooklyn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Universal-Design-generic-graphic.jpg

What is Universal Design?

According to the Center for Universal Design, it “is the design of products and environments to be usable for all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.”

Example of a counter designed using UD. Many different people could use it because of the variety of levels.

Image from: http://www.intheworks.biz/graphics/universal_kitchen_movable.jpg

Process of Universal Design

1. Identify the Application

2. Define the Universe

3. Involve Consumers

4. Adopt Guidelines

or Standards

5. Apply guidelines or Standards

6. Plan for Accommodations

7. Train and Support

8. Evaluate

Universal Design Instruction

The goal of this type of instruction is to insure that students with a variety of characteristics will get the most out of their learning by applying the principles of Universal Design to all areas of instruction.

Image from: http://www.cps-k12.org/Academics/SpecEd/WheelchairGroup.jpg

Guidelines for Implementing UDI

• Class climate of respect

• Regular and effective interaction

• Accessible physical environments and products

• Multiple and accessible delivery methods

• Engaging, flexible, & accessible information resources & technology

• Specific and regular feedback

• Regular assessment using multiple methods

• Accommodation

Example of UDI in Practice

One first grade teacher recognized that his students read at different levels, so he offered four books at different levels for students to pick from and provided corresponding materials to scaffold his students’ reading of the books. Image from: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-

84iyhmf7-yI/UHV28csUEaI/AAAAAAAANqU/421TxRs8nBk/s1600/IMG_0292.JPG

Example of Technology & UDI

Suggestions:As part of UD, when creating web pages, you must consider the variety of different users with different needs and abilities.

• Use a simple, consistent layout

• Use descriptive links that could be understood out of context

• Use captions on videos and text transcripts of video or audio

Image from: http://www.msfw.com/images/accessibility/oneweb.png

Sources

• http://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Academics/instruction.html

• http://4.17.143.133/udl/index.cfm?i=4992

• http://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Technology/universal_class.html

• http://www.washington.edu/doit/CUDE/inst_sec.html