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Integration of 21st century goals into teacher education programs requires attention to diversity, technology, and instructional supports in terms of how content material is presented, students are engaged, and learning is documented. Faced with barriers such as disparities in access to curriculum and technology, as well as differences in background experiences and prior knowledge, teachers in today's classrooms face unique challenges as they struggle to meet the diversity of needs within a single classroom setting. As a result, educators need innovative approaches to address the diversity of available resources, student characteristics, and other environmental challenges. One approach is the integration of Universal Design for Learning principles with instructional planning. By using a wide lens approach to initial instructional planning and then narrowing the focus through the integration of Universal Design for Learning principles to meet individual needs within lessons from facilitation through assessment, teachers are able to address individual needs while also facilitating planning for the entire class.

"Macomb County's E3T Universal Design for Learning professional development team is dedicated to providing teachers with the tools and strategies they need to remove curriculum barriers and increase learning opportunities for EVERY learner.  E3T teams learn to create flexible curriculum that meets the needs of a wide range of students including gifted students, struggling students, students for whom English is a second language, disadvantaged students, disengaged students, in short, all of the students who comprise today's classrooms. E3T is based upon an instructional framework called Universal Design for Learning or UDL. UDL is a research-based approach to teaching, learning and assessment that draws on brain research and new media technologies to respond to individual learner differences and interests.   E3T teams efficiently and "

"CAST Professional Learning offers many opportunities for educators, teachers, administrators, and organizations to enhance their professional understanding of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a framework for education design that is based upon cognitive neuroscientific principles. UDL, developed by CAST, has become one of the most widely, nationally accepted set of guidelines that enable educators to amplify the learning experience and reach the variability of all learners."

"College STAR professional development modules are organized around the three principles of Universal Design for Learning. Many of these modules originate from a direct attention to hearing student voices on the college campus. Students identify and describe examples of effective teaching practices, strategies, resources and routines used by faculty members across campus. These nominated instructional practices become the topics for some of these modules. Each module contains an alignment of the instructional practice with principles of Universal Design for Learning, a description of how the practice has been implemented by university instructor(s), a brief summary of professional literature that supports the instructional practice, and additional resources for viewers."

CAST today announced the release of UDL Studio, a free web-based tool that enables anyone to author and publish educational materials that use the universal design for learning framework to flexibly respond to the needs of all learners.

"Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a set of principles and techniques for creating inclusive classroom instruction and accessible course materials. At its core is the assertion that all students benefit when they are given multiples ways to take in new information, express their comprehension, and become engaged in learning."

article from the Journal of Accessibility and Design for All

"Universal Design for Learning: Critical Elements & Instructional Planning Process"

"Universal Design Considerations for Technology-Based, Large-Scale, Next-Generation Assessments"

This site is a companion to the PBS special Misunderstood Minds, and profiles a variety of learning problems and expert opinions. It is designed to give parents and teachers a better understanding of learning processes, insights into difficulties, and strategies for responding.

"These are electronic devices, equipment and technical aids specially designed to improve disabled people autonomy"

This is a story of a first-time instructor and her discovery of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

Introducing Pearson HTMLbooks™. Now every child can achieve maximum benefit from Pearson K-12 basal Student Editions. Pearson HTMLbooks are fully compatible with assistive technologies. The versatile digital design makes them ideal for students with disabilities who may have an Individual Education Plan/Program (IEP) and/or 504 plans. Pearson's HTMLbooks deliver the core content found in Pearson textbooks, which provides equal access to all students. They also are perfect for students who need additional support at home.

Introducing Pearson HTMLbooks™. Now every child can achieve maximum benefit from Pearson K-12 basal Student Editions. Pearson HTMLbooks are fully compatible with assistive technologies. The versatile digital design makes them ideal for students with disabilities who may have an Individual Education Plan/Program (IEP) and/or 504 plans. Pearson's HTMLbooks deliver the core content found in Pearson textbooks, which provides equal access to all students. They also are perfect for students who need additional support at home.

Founded in 2009, the National UDL Center supports the effective implementation of UDL by connecting stakeholders in the field and providing resources and information. The site includes each component of the UDL framework guidelines and research to support each component, as well as links to websites that exemplify many of the components.

"New Film Series: "UDL Principles and Practice" Introducing a new website feature-the UDL Screening Room-and a series of online films that explore the principles of universal design for learning (UDL) and the UDL Guidelines, and provides practical examples of UDL implementation in three classrooms."

"The Franklin AnyBook Reader is designed to make any book and interactive, "read to me" book. Essentially you attach special stickers to the pages of books and then when you touch the pen to the sticker it plays back a self-recorded message"

Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs: blog "The Franklin AnyBook Reader is designed to make any book and interactive, "read to me" book. Essentially you attach special stickers to the pages of books and then when you touch the pen to the sticker it plays back a self-recorded message."

UDL-U supports postsecondary faculty and staff by providing resources and examples to improve postsecondary education for all students, including those with disabilities. UDL-U is designed to be useful for individual inquiries related to small UDL topics, issues, or problems, as well as scalable to larger faculty development efforts (e.g., Faculty Learning Communities). UDL-U frames course redesign as a three-tier professional development process: Application of UDL principles to enhance teaching and learning Utilization of accessible instructional media and practices Awareness of assistive technology enablers and barriers

"Communication applications (apps), designed to be used on an iPhone, iTouch or iPad (iDevices), fit different cognitive and learning profiles just like all programs and devices do. Today, most people use multiple devices to address their daily communication needs. The idea that ANY one device can (or should) "do the job" for individuals with communication needs no longer makes sense. "

The National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials and PACER Center are pleased to announce the release of our new video explaining Accessible Instructional Materials in easy to understand language. This fully-captioned video is designed to increase awareness of AIM. We invite you to view and share this video with your colleagues and the families you serve.

"Welcome!!! MrMatt.Org is a free website designed to help educators with assistive and educational technology services. The site contains the opinions of Matt Connell, Educator and Assistive Technology Specialist, and has no connection with any specific developer or service. Matt Connell is an Early Childhood and Special Education teacher in Western Kansas. In addition to teaching three- and four-year-olds with special needs, Matt is also the co-chair of his district's Assistive Technology team."