Making+the+Connection

= = =__What is the connection between Assistive Technology and Universal Design?__=  toc

  The key concept in Universal Design for Learning is that new curricular materials and learning technologies will be designed to be flexible to accommodate the unique learning styles of a wide range of individuals, including children with disabilities. Examples include accessible websites, electronic versions of textbooks and other materials; captioned and/or narrated videos; word processors with word prediction; and voice recognition. The definition of universal design is in the Assistive Technology Act at 29 U.S.C. 3002 (19).  It states the following: **"(19) Universal Design**

**The term "universal design" means a concept or philosophy for designing and delivering products** **and services that are usable by people with the widest possible range of functional capabilities,** **which include products and services that are directly accessible (without requiring assistive** **technologies) and products and services that are interoperable with assistive technologies."** ** The following video describes how technology, including assistive, supports the UDL framework. **  media type="youtube" key="zLHYbCMOCBo?rel=0" height="315" width="560"

__Related Resources__

 * 1) National Education Technology Plan
 * 2) //Assistive Technology and Universal Design for Learning:Two Sides of the Same Coin// (Rose, D.; Hasselbring, T; Stahl, S; Zabala, J)
 * 3) U.S. Office of Special Education Programs: Ideas that Work