Harvard Education Press

A Practical Reader in Universal Design for Learning

Edited by David H. Rose and Anne Meyer

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) stands at the forefront of contemporary efforts to create universal access to educational curricula for all students, including those with disabilities. The “universal” in UDL does not mean there is a single optimal solution for everyone. Instead, it underscores the need for flexible approaches to teaching and learning that meet the needs of different kinds of learners.

In this first UDL Reader, Anne Meyer and David H. Rose, cofounders of CAST, the educational nonprofit that developed the UDL framework, bring together a collection of articles on the practical, classroom dimensions of the UDL revolution in education. The authors offer insights on learner differences, the capacities of new media in the classroom, and effective teaching and assessment practices. The volume also includes lessons from teacher professional development workshops, classroom-based research, and UDL practitioners themselves.

A highly readable volume aimed particularly at school teachers and administrators, this book is also an uncommonly accessible introduction to UDL for all readers committed to creating improved and universal access to educational materials for all students.

Praise:

"It is wonderful to find an educational book that offers both pedagogy and practical classroom applications. A Practical Reader in Universal Design for Learning was written for classroom teachers and school administrators, and it provides a wealth of implementation strategies, model lessons, and teacher reflections. This easy-to-read book will be an immediate and useful resource for all educators."
—Quentina Timoll, Educational Technology Consultant, Louisiana Department of Education

"This is the definitive primer on Universal Design for Learning. It will be immensely helpful for teacher education candidates, graduate students, and in-service teachers —in both classes for new teachers and professional development classes for experienced ones."
—Bob Hughes, Dean of General Studies, South Seattle Community College

"This is a must-read for all educators who are genuinely interested in promoting practices that remove artificial barriers to learning. It is presented in user-friendly language that can be easily applied in the classroom. The promise of universally designed instruction through flexible means can become a reality. This book shows us the way in real-life examples."
—Markay L. Winston, Director of Student Services, Cincinnati Public Schools

About the Editors:

David H. Rose and Anne Meyer are the cofounding directors of CAST. David H. Rose is CAST’s chief scientist for cognition and learning and a lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Anne Meyer is the chief officer of educational design at CAST. They are the editors of The Universally Designed Classroom: Accessible Curriculum and Digital Technologies from Harvard Education Press.