The idea of a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is honourable in it’s intention, but what I would like to focus on in this post is what measures will have to be taken in order to properly implement a UDL framework within classrooms.
Children and students in general have historically been underserved in their learning environments, for example, students will often tell stories about how one teacher was great, but another just didn’t have the same teaching style and because of that the student struggled. In response to this, the idea of a universal design for learning becomes very enticing, since it would allow the students to each have their own basis of learning through their classroom. This would not only benefit students with disabilities, but also students with undiagnosed attention disorders, and also the average student who never had someone put the focus on their needs, rather than the norm of moulding the student to the educators needs.
While this all works in theory, the unfortunate reality of this learning mode is that would become a very labour intensive and expensive task for public schools to introduce into their curriculum, with the little funding they already currently receive, not to mention the lack of respect and focus that also needs to go to the educators who are underpaid and overworked in the current conditions. The problem I have with the idea of a Universal Design for Learning is that it seems to present a superficial, fairytale solution that seemingly answers all the needs of the student and the parents, however it doesn’t take into the same consideration of the establishment and the teachers that will have to work an immense amount of overtime to rework their entire curriculum, while not being properly compensated or supported. If a UDL were to be introduced into classrooms there is no argument against the benefits it provides for the student. However before making changes it would also be important to find a way to introduce a “Universal Design for Teaching”, that also provides the same resources and accessibility to the teachers in order to benefit every party involved.
View this link for more insight on the advantages and disadvantages of a UDL