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

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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 
• Quadrangle Architects describes how they designed office space to incorporate and model UD (video captioned but not audio described) - another link is provided below

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
• A video explaining how Laney College is using Kurzweil to universally design learning for all students (captioned but not audio described) - another link is provided below

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 the University of Connecticut
• 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
• Connections between accessibility and UDL, from CAST, Inc. (video has captions but no audio description; a link to video is also provided below