Further Resources for Teachers

Universal Design for Learning

Want to avoid stressful, time-intensive retrofitting and get it done the first time through? Looking for improved outcomes for ALL your students? Ready to take on a paradigm shift in how you develop and teach your courses? These online resources will help you make the leap.

 

http://www.washington.edu/doit/equal-access-universal-design-instruction
A single webpage overview of Universal Design of Instruction. Some headings here not widely addressed include Class Climate, Interaction, Information Resources and Technology, and Communication Hints.

 

http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/udlguidelines
The National Center on Universal Design for Learning offers a comprehensive Guidelines section with both a theoretical framework and, via pulldown options, specific examples implementing these guidelines in classroom situations. Highly recommended reading!

 

http://r4udl.wikispaces.com/file/view/casea_lesson_blank.pdf
This document provides a step-by-step framework for designing a lesson following UDL principles, including specific examples of approaches.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eBmyttcfU4

Provocative 18 minute video that challenges the myth of designing for the "average" user and presents a compelling rationale for Universal Design for Learning. TED-X talk by Harvard faculty member Todd Rose. Note: caption quality is uneven, but even so, this video is too good to pass up.

Accessibility

Additional resources to mine when working with a particular student or situation. 

 

http://www.washington.edu/doit/programs/accesscollege/faculty-room/accommodations
At the top, a demographic snapshot of students with disabilities; at the bottom, links to information and suggested accommodations by 1) activity, and 2) specific disability.

 

http://askjan.org/links/atoz.htm
A comprehensive index of specific disability information and related accommodations at jobsites; useful resource for educators and classrooms, as well. Also mine other areas of the askjan.org site, the Job Accommodation Network, for information relevant to preparing students for work environments, and assisting industry partners in employing these students successfully.

 

Family Members: Context for Interacting and Understanding

Background information and a "snapshot" to assist instructors in understanding experiences of family members, particularly parents and guardians, and thereby facilitate communication with a student's family should they request confidential information such as a student's grades or performance indicators. 

Mobile Devices (tablets, smart phones, etc.)

Mobile device manufacturers and app designers have built in STANDARD some amazing accessibility features. Some devices come standard with a built-in screen reader like VoiceOver or TalkBack. Apps like GoodReader have included text-to-speech capability. And there's so much more! If you're using iPads or other tablets, smart phones, or other mobile devices in your classroom, or some of your students are, check out these links.

 

http://www.interactiveaccessibility.com/blog/mobile-screen-reader-gestures#.VTRT_s5PpCJ

Summary with links for information about Apple's VoiceOver screen reader and Android's TalkBack screen reader.

 

http://www.apple.com/accessibility/
Links to information about the myriad accessibility features built into Apple products, including the iPad, organized by disability. Note also the link at the bottom of the page on "Great learning tools. For all learning abilities."

 

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