Learn About
Universal
Design in
Education

Universal Design in Education Centers

The links on this page direct you to the home pages of organizations that were developed specifically to advance universal design in education.

external link

AHEAD

"AHEAD is the premiere professional association committed to full participation of persons with disabilities in postsecondary education. As an international resource, AHEAD:

* values diversity, personal growth and development, and creativity

* promotes leadership and exemplary practices

* provides professional development and disseminates information

* orchestrates resources through partnership and collaboration"

Association on Higher Education and Disability

Not yet rated
external link

CAST - About Universal Design for Learning

CAST is a multifaceted organization with a singular ambition: Bust the barriers to learning that millions of people experience every day. They do this by helping educators and organizations apply insights from the learning sciences and leading-edge practices to educational design and implementation.

Center for Applied Special Technology

Not yet rated
external link

CAST: Center for Applied Special Technology

This website contains information on the Center for Applied Special Technology. "CAST has earned international recognition for its development of innovative, technology-based educational resources and strategies based on the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework for designing curricula that enable all individuals to gain knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm for learning. UDL provides rich supports for learning and reduces barriers to the curriculum while maintaining high achievement standards for all."

Center for Applied Special Technology

Not yet rated
external link

CATEA-Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access

The website for the Center for Assistive Technology & Environmental Access (CATEA) (formerly known as the Center for Rehabilitation Technology) includes links to their Research Laboratories, About CATEA, News, Academics, Courses, Staff, and Content. CATEA focuses on development, evaluation, and utilization of assistive technology, and design and development of accessible environments.

Georgia Institute of Technology (GT) College of Architecture (COA)

Not yet rated
external link

Centre for Excellence in Universal Design

The Centre, based in Ireland, hosts a website with information about Universal Design (UD), including resources (articles, books, etc.) and links for teaching and learning about about UD.

National Disability Authority (NDA), Dublin, Ireland

Not yet rated
external link

DO-IT Center

This webpage explains how "DO-IT serves to increase the participation of individuals with disabilities in challenging academic programs and careers. It promotes the use of computer and networking technologies to increase independence, productivity, and participation in education and employment."

University of Washington, DO-IT

external link

Equity and Excellence in Higher Education: Universal Course Design

"This website has been designed for faculty, by faculty, to help you learn about Universal Course Design (UCD)." Information on this site is intended for "provide college faculty with UCD strategies and tools to increase access for all students, including those with disabilities."

Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts/Boston, in partnership with the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire

Not yet rated
external link

Global Alliance on Accessible Technologies and Environments

"The Global Alliance on Accessible Technologies and Environments (GAATES) is the leading international not-for-profit organization that brings together experts in accessibility of electronic and communication technologies and accessibility of the built environment." A list meetings and conferences, upcoming events, papers, reports, and presentations are provided on the website.

GAATES

Not yet rated
external link

NARRTC (formerly known as the National Association of Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers)  (Research based)

The ultimate mission of NARRTC is to promote the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in American society through applied research and training. The association values participatory action research and training efforts which are conducted with the cooperation and participation of people with disabilities and seeks research results that are valuable to people with disabilities, their families, stakeholders and policy makers.

NARRTC, funded by National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)

Not yet rated
external link

National Center on Disability and Access to Education

"The National Center on Disability and Access to Education (NCDAE) monitors and promotes electronically-mediated distance education policies and practices that enhance the lives of people with disabilities and their families." Information regarding policies and leadership, tools and technology, community and partnership, and projects and activities are provided on this website.

Utah State University Center for Persons with Disabilities

Not yet rated
external link

RERC on Universal Design and the Built Environment at the University at Buffalo  (Research based)

This webpage introduces their 2 research projects, 2 development projects, and 2 training and dissemination projects as a rehabilitation engineering research center (RERC) on Universal Design and the Built Environment. The webpage also provides year by year publications on the projects as well as links to previous RERC-UD Cycles.

State University of New York at Buffalo

Not yet rated
external link

The DIAGRAM Center - Digital Image and Graphic Resources for Accessible Materials  (Research based)

This website for the DIAGRAM Center has been established by the US Department of Education (Office of Special Education Programs). The DIAGRAM Center helps find ways to make image descriptions in textbooks for print disabled students more effective and less costly. This site has been created to bring the work of the Center to the public. As the work of the Center progresses, the contents of this site will evolve.

US Department of Education (Office of Special Education Programs)

Not yet rated
external link

The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies

Funded since 2001, the Wireless RERC (Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center) researches issues and solutions related to the accessibility and usability of mobile wireless products and services by people with disabilities.

National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)

Not yet rated
external link

UConn Center on Postsecondary Education and Disability

Home to "FacultyWare" - a website to provide "a broad range of information and tools to enhance the design and delivery of instruction for diverse college students."

University of Connecticut; Center on Postsecondary Education and Disability

Not yet rated
external link

UDL-U: A Comprehensive Faculty Development Guide

The UDL-U website 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", including application of UDL principles to enhance teaching and learning, utilization of accessible instructional media and practices, and awareness of assistive technology enablers and barriers.

EnACT

Not yet rated

"When I had my accident I was told that, if I were to live, I'd live in an institution for the rest of my life... I don't think those people thought that that institution would be the Parliament of Canada"

Steven Fletcher, Member of Canadian Parliament