Using the UDL Model

UDL is more commonly known as a Universal Design for Learning. By adopting universal principles for designing a learning environment, educators engage in a mindset that inherently promotes an ubiquitous manner of success for all students.

Universal Design for Learning refers to the practice of representation, action & expression, and engagement for the variety of learners that inhabit our world.

We live in and interact in a global community. Why not provide an environment that harnesses and celebrates the multiple styles of learning and engagement with the world around us?

Universal Design for Learning aims to create a learning environment where each student uses their aptitudes to ascertain academic success.

What is Assistive Technology?

Educators, parents and students operate within a school environment that is laden with a variety of terms, expectations and methods of attaining academic success. In order to provide clarity to the purpose of this blog, readers must be able to define, identify with and perceive themselves implementing the use of assistive technology in the school environment. 

Assistive Technology consists of two parts; devices and services.

Assistive Technology is defined as the following; 

Devices- any item, piece of equipment, or product system...modified or customized, that is used to create, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of a child with a disability

Services- any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device

An Assistive Technology Continuum of example devices can be found at the following link;

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My Journey With Assistive Technology

A regular education teacher, currently pursuing my Special Education degree, I am beginning my journey learning about and teaching in tandem with the use of Assistive Technology. My goals for this blog mirror my aspirations for my students; to acquire knowledge in a variety of mediums, synthesize, and then utilize the information I have learned to engage with the world around me in a meaningful way.

By learning about and building my foundational knowledge about Assistive Technology I hope to implement the principles, methods and tools acquired in a classroom to improve the functional capabilities of students with disabilities.