Universal Design

One of the best ways to promote success for all students is to embrace Universal Design for Learning Practices. When used effectively, they may mitigate the need for additional class accommodations; you can find SRJC's in-depth Universal Design Toolkit here.

Access requirements can be helpful for everyone - not just people with disabilities. All users benefit when there are a variety of ways to access material. Planning for access during course development is much easier than creating accommodation strategies after someone with a disability enrolls in the class (or applies to teach it), and it's required of all online materials.

Universal design is defined by Ron Mace of the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University as "the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design." The concept stresses design that is marketable to people with diverse abilities, preferences, languages, ages, and other characteristics.

For more information on the principles of universal design and their relevance for instructors, visit the Curriculum Committee website.

Disability Resource Department

For more information, please visit the DRD website by clicking here.