Date
22 March 2024

Consider universal supports and useful options

Suggestion for implementing the strategy ‘How to plan using UDL’

On this page:

Identify universal supports

Identify universal supports

Often tools or approaches traditionally offered to one student but can easily be made available to everyone.

This is a universal approach and the tools become optional supports for everyone.

Examples of universal supports

Examples of universal supports

Useful resources in every learning environment.

Common examples:

  • text-to-speech
  • speech-to-text
  • closed captions on videos
  • graphic organisers
  • essay planning tools
  • digital documents
  • e-books
  • headphones.
  • paper of different sizes
  • mini whiteboards and pens.

Reflection questions

Reflection questions

  • What tools or approaches do you offer individual students that could be made available to all students?
  • What universal supports could be useful to make available across all classrooms?
  • What universal supports do you expect to be available to everyone in your workplace?

Source: Adapted from Universal design for learning: Theory and practice (opens in a new tab/window)

Useful resources

Useful resources

Website

Do’s and don’ts on designing for accessibility

Read time: 34 min

A set of six posters with general guidelines for designing accessible web content. These posters are also useful considerations for general classroom planning and content design.

Publisher: United Kingdom Government

Visit website

Website

UDL Virtual tour

An interactive 360 deg tour of a high school classroom to see every day examples of UDL. To navigate through the classroom, click and drag the mouse to the left or right. Click on hotspots and magnifying glasses to zoom in on specific examples. Use the map to locate and see a brief description of each UDL support.

Publisher: Maryland Learning Links

Visit website

Website

UDL Tech toolkit

A Google site with lists of free technology tools to support including all learners in your classroom from the outset as you plan. A wide range of topics are covered with specific tools including: literacy tools, writing tools, maths tools, multimedia and digital storytelling tools, audio books, text-to-speech, graphic organisers, study skills tools.

Publisher: Joyce Valenza

Visit website

Next steps

More suggestions for implementing the strategy “How to plan using UDL”:

Return to the guide “Universal Design for Learning”

Guide to Index of the guide: Universal Design for Learning

Strategies for action:

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