1. Universal Design of Instruction

Ann Satkowiak
Services for Students with Disabilities
Pellissippi State Technical Community College
June 2004

2. Topics to be covered: Universal Design of Instruction

• Definition
• History
• Seven Principles
• Applications to Instruction

3. Universal Design Defined

"Universal design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design."
-Ron Mace

4. Universal Design

"The intent of universal design is to simplify life for everyone by making products, communications, and the built environment more usable by as many people as possible at little or no extra cost. Universal design benefits people of all ages and abilities."
-Center for Universal Design at NC State

5. Simple Definition

Universal design means planning ahead so that instruction meets the needs of all learners.

It is thinking about individual needs before the class begins so that the need for retrofitting or changing instructional materials, formats, and classroom delivery for persons with disabilities is unnecessary.

6. History of Universal Design

• North Carolina State University, Center for Universal Design, 1997
• Group of architects, product designers, engineers, environmental design researchers established a set of 7 principles
• For more information: http://www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/univ_design/udhistory.htm

7. Seven Principles of Universal Design

1. Equitable Use
2. Flexibility in Use
3. Simple and Intuitive Use
4. Perceptible Information
5. Tolerance for Error
6. Low Physical Effort
7. Size and Space for Approach & Use

8. Application of Universal Design to Instruction

Inclusiveness: A classroom that values diversity

Application: Syllabus statement inviting students to discuss disability needs

9. Sample Syllabus Statement

"If you need academic accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please inform me immediately. Please see me privately after class, or at my office."

10. Additional Syllabus Information

"To request academic accommodations, students must be registered with Services for Students with Disabilities, Goins Building, Rooms 125, 126, 127, or 131. Phone/TTY (865) 694-6751. This office is responsible for reviewing documentation provided by students requesting accommodations based on disabilities."

11. Application of Universal Design to Instruction

Physical Access: Classrooms, labs, field work that are accessible to individuals with a wide variety of physical abilities without the need of another human to complete learning tasks.

12. Physical Environment Applications

• Provide accessible lab stations in all labs
• Provide operation options for equipment in "non-accessible" labs
• Make sure the accessible tables and chairs in the classroom are reserved for use by those with disabilities
• Arrange classrooms so that persons with mobility problems can move freely

13. Application of Universal Design to Instruction

Delivery Methods: Try to include all of the following in classroom instruction:

• Lecture
• Discussion
• Hands-on
• Internet-based activities
• Field work

14. Applications of Universal Design in the Classroom

Use multiple learning modes to deliver course content: Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic

Provide printed materials that summarize oral delivery of information

• Copies of overheads
• Copies of lecture notes posted online, etc.

16. Applications to Instruction

• Provide text descriptions of graphics on Web pages that can be read by screen reader software for the blind and learning disabled
• Provide printed materials early so that students have them at the beginning of a class period
• Create materials in simple, intuitive, consistent formats

17. Application of Universal Design to Instruction

Interaction Applications:

• In-class questions and discussion
• Group work
• Internet-based communications

Strive to make things accessible without accommodation

18. Application of Universal Design to Instruction

Feedback Applications:

• Effective prompting during activities
• Feedback after assignment is complete (go over test questions to provide accurate information after grading)
• Demonstration of Knowledge:
• Consider group work, demonstrations, portfolios, and presentations as options as well as traditional tests and papers

19. Resources:

• The Center for Universal Design http://www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/
• The Principles of Universal Design http://www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/univ_design/princ_overview.htm
• DO-IT at The University of Washington http://www.washington.edu/doit

20. Resources Continued:

• National Center for Accessible Media(NCAM) http://main.wgbh.org/wgbh/pages/ncam/
• Web Accessibility Initiative, World Wide Web Consortium http://www.w3.org/WAI/
• WebABLE http://www.webable.com/