Universal Design for Learning

  • Three images of a barin. The first image highlights the portion of the brain that deals with engagement, interests, and effort. The second image highlights the area of the brain that are used for representation, perception, and building knowledge. The third image shows areas of the brain that deal with Action & Expression, communication, and strategy development.

Universal Design for Learning

Universal Design for Learning

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a teaching approach that aims to create inclusive learning environments by removing barriers and providing students with multiple ways to learn and demonstrate their knowledge. UDL is based on the idea that all students should have equal opportunities to learn, regardless of their abilities, cultural background, or other factors.
An informational chart detailing the Universal Design for Learning Guidelines. The chart is organized into three main colored columns—Engagement (green), Representation (purple), and Action & Expression (blue)—and three horizontal rows labeled Access, Support, and Executive Function, with bulleted design strategies under each intersection block.

Understanding the UDL Framework

UDL is a framework designed to improve teaching and learning for all by proactively removing barriers in the curriculum and providing students with agency in their learning.

A group of elementary school students working on an arts and crafts project at a wooden desk in a bright classroom. One girl holds a green paper circle while another girl points at it with a pen, and a boy in a blue plaid shirt writes in the foreground.

Implementing UDL in the Classroom

UDL is an approach to teaching that focuses on meeting the needs of every student in a classroom. Here are some resources to help you implement UDL in your classroom.

A top-down view of a wooden desk featuring a small ring-bound card with the text "NATURAL VARIABILITY." To the right, a spiral notebook displays a colored-pencil drawing of planet Earth. A few scattered puzzle pieces and colorful paperclips are in the upper left corner.

Understanding Learner Variability

We are all different. Variability is the rule, not the exception. Learner variability recognizes that everyone brings a unique collection of abilities and experiences to their learning.

A dark background featuring colorful cutouts of hands surrounding a central red speech bubble that reads "INCLUSIVE EDUCATION" in bold white text.

Inclusive education practices are actions and approaches that ensure all students, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, have equal access to opportunities and resources. Inclusive classrooms are those in which students with disabilities are educated alongside their nondisabled peers to the "maximum extent appropriate," with specialized services and supports provided to help students succeed. Placement in a general education classroom, the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), should be the first and primary consideration.

Visit our Inclusive Education Resources to learn more.