The process of building in (rather than adding on) accessibility and support for diverse learning needs is known as "Universal Design." In postsecondary environments, universal design means making the goals of learning achievable by as many students as possible. This approach to the presentation of instructional strategies and materials assumes that students with varying needs will be involved in learning, and that the materials themselves need to be able to adapt to this diversity. With UDL and digital media, this adaptation is possible.
Hardware that encompasses UDL is already a reality. The current generation of PC's owes its ubiquity within our culture to the design of ease of access and multi-modality learning. At its best, technology in the employ of education can entertain, capture emotion and allow for interactivity. Software that embodies universal design principles, allowing curriculum developers to customize their product for individual learning styles, is becoming more available to educators, through companies like Blackboard and WebCT. Universally designed software, together with end user products (like scanners, screen readers and voice recognition systems) that are becoming commercially available, takes advantage of computer flexibility to build in adjustability features for different learners.
 | Video Clip: Supporting Good Teaching Duration: 1.1 minutes  |
