About Universal Design

To understand Universal Design for Learning, you have to start with Universal Design.

Universal Design (UD) is the design of products and environments to be used by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. It is widely used in architecture, arts, health care, and education.

An early example of UD is the sidewalk curb cut. Initially designed to improve access for people in wheel chairs, curb cuts today offer convenience to cyclists, skateboarders, and people wheeling strollers and shopping carts.

Curb cuts are also an excellent example of an important premise of UD — when adaptability is built in, people will find numerous uses for it.