THE NCCSD CLEARINGHOUSE AND RESOURCE LIBRARY
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Clearinghouse Reviewers
  • Crisis Resources
  • National Resources
    • National Organizations
    • Federal Agencies
    • Campus Student Groups
  • Publications & Products
    • NCCSD Posters & Products
    • Research Briefs
    • Research Highlights
    • AHEAD Publications
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Clearinghouse Reviewers
  • Crisis Resources
  • National Resources
    • National Organizations
    • Federal Agencies
    • Campus Student Groups
  • Publications & Products
    • NCCSD Posters & Products
    • Research Briefs
    • Research Highlights
    • AHEAD Publications

Universal Design

"Universal design" started in architecture and computing, but is now spreading to affect how colleges think about teaching and learning.  This is a starting place to learn more about "UD."

Also be sure to check out resources from DO-IT on the topic of universal design in higher education, including applications in technology, teaching, physical space, and student services
Abstract graphic of planets and a sun

UD in Architecture
and Design

  • The history of universal design, from The Center for Universal Design at NC State University
  • Principles of UD, also by The Center for Universal Design (includes a free poster available for download)
  • Information about Deaf space architectural theories at Gallaudet University 
  • Video below: Quadrangle Architects describes how they designed office space to incorporate and model UD (video captioned but not audio described) 

UD in Technology

  • DO-IT at the University of Washington has collected a comprehensive list of resources for higher education related to universally designed technology and media, assistive technology and legal issues
  • A list of resources for designing accessible computer labs on campus - also from DO-IT
  • The video below explains how Laney College is using Kurzweil to universally design learning for all students (captioned but not audio described) 

UD in Teaching
​and Learning

There are two main forms of UD in teaching and learning: Universal Design for Instruction (UDI) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) - the list below includes links to both versions
  • Principles of UDI from DO-IT at the University of Washington
  • UDL guidelines, an introductory video, and access to a free book about UDL are at CAST, Inc.
  • Examples of campuses that are implementing UDL in systematic ways
  • A checklist for instructors looking for concrete strategies to try UDL/UDI in teaching and learning, developed by research from DO-IT at the University of Washington
  • A printable PDF fact sheet for faculty about universal design, published by The Ohio State University
  • The following video discusses connections between accessibility and UDL, from CAST, Inc. (video has captions but no audio description)

Footer-About the NCCSD

NCCSD logo-bold blue letters NCCSD surrounded by green laurel leaves on both sides; beneath this:
Logo for AHEAD Black lettering Association on Higher Education And Disability
Logo US Department of Education-a leafy tree surrounded by a  blue circle
​In 2021, a federal discretionary grant (P116D210002) was awarded via  the National Center for Information and Technical Support for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities Program (NCITSPSD) to the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration (ICI-UMN), in full partnership with the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) and is authorized by Congress in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (777.4). 

The NCITSPSD program grant was originally awarded in 2015 (P116D150005) to the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD).

Please see caveats on the home page about not assuming the NCCSD, University of Minnesota, AHEAD or the US Dept. of Education agree with all content on linked pages, and we can't guarantee the accessibility of other sites.

The material on this website is available in alternative formats upon request; questions or concerns about accessibility should be sent to nccsd@ahead.org.  All images are from Bigstock.com or public domain except where noted.

Find us on
social media!

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Youtube


BUILD YOUR KNOWLEDGE

  at the NCCSD  TRAINING CENTER
PRIVACY POLICY