UDL stands for Universal Design for Learning. "The UDL framework helps us to see that inflexible curricular materials and methods are barriers to diverse learners just as inflexible buildings with stairs as the only entry option are barriers to people with physical disabilities." This explanation and its use of an example allows easier understanding of what UDL is. UDL is a framework for student learning that is diverse just as the students are. Not all students learn the same, some may have learning disabilities or some may just learn better in different ways than others. There are many types of learners: visual, auditory, tactile, kinesthetic, verbal, interactive, etc. and every one of them deserve the best quality education. With that being said, UDL is not limited to or directed at certain students, but is beneficial for each and every student.
For UDL to be successful there is a need for curriculum reform. A UDL curriculum is specific and different from traditional ones. For example, in a UDL curriculum "goals provide an appropriate challenges for all students." "Materials have a flexible format, supporting transformation between media and multiple representations of content to support all students' learning." Methods must be "flexible and diverse enough to provide appropriate learning experiences, challenges, and support for all students." Finally "assessment is sufficiently flexible to provide accurate, ongoing, information that helps teachers adjust instruction and maximize learning."
Closely related to UDL is IDEA, which "offers greater potential educational opportunities for students with disabilities than they have ever before enjoyed." Before IDEA, students with disabilities were often denied public education. Now, thankfully, things have changed and students with disabilities are being taught in public schools nationwide. For the general elementary education teacher, this means reevaluating their curriculum and adapting it to meet the needs of every student regardless of disabilities. This may entail much more work for the teacher, along with new learning for themselves to acquire how to incorporate new teaching styles, but overall these teachers are gaining a beneficial skill that will allow them to provide all of their students with the most quality education that they can offer.
"This adaptability increases accessibility for students with visual, auditory, reading, or motor impairments because they can elect to view and respond to the content in a medium and means that suit their needs." UDL allows all students, including those who require special education, to learn together without any form of segregation or classification. This relates to Civil Rights because, shouldn't all students be provided with quality education regardless of any differences they may have from another?!
"UDL goals begin with standards and benchmarks that reflect the knowledge and skills all students will strive for and are carefully conceived and expressed to encourage multiple pathways for achieving them." Overall, the goals of UDL are to promote equal opportunities to learn and grow in a setting where the learning needs of all and any student are provided. To be more clear, UDL hopes to accommodate all students with learning techniques that will benefit all of them rather than a portion of them. This is how it should be in every class room; there is no need to separate students due to their differences in learning abilities, physical abilities, etc.
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