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Universal Design: Home

CCT promotes the following 9 principles across all institutional activities:


1. Equitable use: Accessing course information, such as syllabi, in a variety of formats, such as in-print and online.


2. Flexibility in use: Varying instructional methods, including lecture, discussion, and individual/group activities.

3. Simple and intuitive: Describing course expectations for assessment and grading clearly in a variety of formats (narrative descrption, rubric grid, etc.)

4. Perceptible information: Using videos that include subtitles for those who may not hear, for whom English is not a first language, or for those who have trouble processing verbal information.

5. Tolerance for error: Providing ongoing and continual feedback on coursework rather than at specified interim periods, such as mid-term or final exams.

6. Low physical effort: Providing lecture notes so students who have difficulty taking notes do not need to take notes.

7. Size and space for approach and use: Making seating easily accessible, if possible, so everyone can see each other and communicate with one another directly. Circular seating may address this principle.

8. Community of learners: Creating a variety of learning settings by using e-mail groups, social networking sites, or chat rooms.

9. Instructional climate: Including a statement in the syllabus indicating the desire to meet the instructional needs of all students and for students to convey their needs to the instructor.

Source: https://www.ahead.ie/ra_appendix_udprinciples

Ahead promotes the CAST Framework for Universal Design learning that embodies three principles:

  • Provide multiple means of representation
  • Provide multiple means of engagement
  • Provide multiple means of action and expression

CCT faculty are encouraged to apply these principles to curriculum design, delivery, assessment and media use with the support of the CCT Centre for Teaching and Learning.

See contacts in this Toolkit if you require support. The tenets of the Universal Design Learning Framework are expanded upon in the infographic below.

Please click on the image to zoom.

CCT encourages the creation of accessible digital materials in line with the principles of the Framework for Universal Design which are:

  • Provide multiple means of representation
  • Provide multiple means of engagement
  • Multiple means of action and expression


Butler University has produced a guide to digital accessibility for a range of formats including image, video, audio, spreadsheets and more. Ahead has also produced a number of videos as part of a webinar series on digital accessibility.

These resources along with a digital accessibility checklist are available on this page. Faculty are encouraged to consult these materials to inform their practice.

For more information, see:

The accessibility checklist.

The Do's and Don'ts of Accessibility Design (Gov.UK).

UCD Universal Design Toolkit

UDL Implementation Rubric

Universal Design Case Studies

Inclusive Assessment and Feedback

DCU UDL Framework

DCU Universal Design Toolkit

CAST Learning Design Framework

Ahead Interactive Data Dashboard

HIVE- Ahead's Assistive Technology Resource

Employer Attitudes to Hiring Graduates with Disabilities (2021)

10 Ways to Ensure that Online Assessment is Accessible and Inclusive

AHEAD has devised a quiz that can help you assess which UDL principles you are already using in your class and provides an indication of areas for improvement.

Click on the image below to  take the quiz.

 

Source: https://www.ahead.ie/udl-practice