Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Toolkit and details about UDL in Higher Education Opportunity Act

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Kim Hammons wrote: Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Toolkit More Info Details about UDL in Higher Education Opportunity Act BACKGROUND: Universal design for learning (UDL) is an educational framework and set of principles to provide ALL students equal opportunities to learn. Using UDL principles in general education and special education

classrooms makes curriculum accessible. Learning is supported; students gain knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm for learning; and their learning is validly assessed. Using the following three principles, UDL embeds flexibility into the components of the curriculum: goals, teaching methods, instructional materials and assessments. Provide multiple and flexible methods of presentation to give students various ways of acquiring information and knowledge. Provide multiple and flexible means of expression to provide students with alternatives for demonstrating what they have learned, and Provide multiple and flexible means of engagement to tap into learners' interests, challenge them appropriately, and motivate them to learn. UDL TOOLKIT: The U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) has published a toolkit of information and resources that will help policymakers, education personnel and parents understand how to implement UDL strategies and practices. This toolkit is available at http://www.osepidea sthatwork. org/ and CDs will be available shortly through ED Pubs http://edpubs. ed.gov/ HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY ACT: Recently the Higher Education Opportunity Act was passed with numerous provisions regarding the preparation of educators in early childhood, elementary, secondary and postsecondary education settings to use the principles of UDL in their instructional practices. A few key provisions are: A definition of

universal design for learning (the first one in any statute). A requirement that institutions of higher education and States will publish a report card that contains a description of activities consistent with the principles of universal design for learning that prepare teachers to integrate technology effectively into curricula and instruction. A requirement in The Teach to Reach grant (which prepares general educators to teach students with disabilities) that the funding must be used to provide certain skills including those related to universal design for learning. There are other grants that specifically list activities related to universal design for learning as a permissible use of the funds. A document containing all the UDL provisions in the Act is at http://www1. ndss.org/ index.php? option=com_ docman & task=doc_view & gid=163 & Itemid=292 IMPORTANCE: Parents, teachers, school boards, principals, related service providers, State Directors of Special Education and many others agree that UDL is needed to improve instruction and assessment for all students, especially students with disabilities. As a result NDSS has been able to organize a coalition of 24 national general education and disability organizations called the National UDL Task Force. NDSC is also a member of this Task Force. The fact that UDL is now incorporated in the Higher Education Opportunity Act is an important first step. The Task Force has already recommended UDL provisions for the upcoming reauthorization of NCLB and will recommend

provisions for IDEA when its reauthorization process begins. In addition to focusing on legislation, the Task Force is working on numerous communication tools and strategies to aid the implementation of UDL. The UDL Toolkit is part of that communication campaign. The Task Force is grateful to OSEP for being responsive to our request for this toolkit. For more information on the Task Force and UDL see www.udl4allstudents .com and www.cast.org. For more information on this information bulletin, please contact Ricki Sabia at rsabiandss (DOT) org or Goodman at g1961aol (DOT) com. If you are not on the NDSS action alert email list and would like to receive these alerts and information bulletins, please subscribe at: http://capwiz. com/ndss/ mlm/signup/. National Down Syndrome Society666 Broadway, New York, NY 10012Phone: ; Fax: Web site: http://www.ndss. org NDSS National Policy Center5505 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. # 239Washington, DC 20015-2601 Phone: e-mail: advoc acyndss (DOT) org Our mission is to benefit people with Down syndrome and their familiesthrough national leadership in education, research and advocacy. Kim Hammons IPUT Informed Parents United Together Tampa, Florida www.iput.org www.yahoogroups.com Keyword: "IPUT"