In today’s classroom, there is a better appreciation for the widespread diversity of all learners. Every student arrives with a very different set of skills, life experiences, abilities, and learning styles. At the same time, there is increased emphasis on standards and accountability that challenges teachers to help ALL students achieve.

Based on brain research, Universal Design for Learning identifies three learning networks. These include networks that recognize the information to be learned, the application of strategies to process information and the engagement of the student in the learning tasks. Although all brains share these network operations, individual brains receive and process information very differently. As a result, curriculum must be designed to accommodate these differences. Universal Design for Learning promotes flexibility in curriculum by providing multiple representations of information, multiple pathways for expression, and multiple opportunities for engagement.

With regard to student diversity, Universal Design for Learning is the opposite of the “one-size-fits-all” approach to learning. By applying the concepts of Universal Design for Learning, educators can minimize barriers and provide supports and challenges appropriate to each learner.