Let’s make that statement a bit more clear: The barrier is in the design and implementation of the environment, not the learner.
Wait, what?
The environment: It is made up of resources, physical structures, delivery methods, relationships, and beliefs and attitudes.
The learner: Everything about that person that makes them an individual.
The learner and anything that describes the learner is not the barrier.
Is this a different way of thinking? Yes.
Does it impact design and implementation? Yes.
Will you need to unpack this more? Yes.
Does this concept lessen rigor or learner responsibility? No. Not when you use the UDL Guidelines to design the environment and your instruction.
Need examples?
- Listen to educators from around the world share how they’ve used UDL to build impactful, rigorous instruction and environments. UDL in 15 Minutes
- Want to do a deep but enjoyable dive into UDL? Check out Design and Deliver: Planning and Teaching Using Universal Design for Learning
- Follow for more UDL 101’s.