Universal Design for Learning in Higher Education to Improve Instruction in Inclusive Settings

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a promising instructional approach to support inclusion in both K-12 and higher education settings and to improve academic content access for students with disabilities. The purpose of this chapter is to outline the potential benefits of incorporation of UDL strategies in higher education and teacher preparation programs as a means to improve access and equity in outcomes for all students. This chapter begins with an overview of UDL as a framework and describes the key principles of UDL (multiple means of representation, engagement, and expression). We share the promising (albeit limited) research on the implementation of UDL in the classroom and consider the challenges and the benefits of using UDL in higher education. We outline key practices for effective UDL implementation in higher education and specifically in teacher preparation programs. These include modeling UDL implementation across university courses and specifically within teacher preparation programs where preservice teachers also have the opportunity to practice UDL and develop the skills needed to use it in K-12 classroom settings. Lastly, the chapter concludes with implications for practice, including concrete examples on how to embed UDL into higher education courses and guiding questions for development of UDL lesson plans.