Discover Design and Deliver 2016 UDL Summer Institute

Breakout Sessions


Spy on UDL Through a UDL Lens

Now that we know about the instructional framework of Universal Design for Learning, how can we gain more insight into this idea? Participants will be exposed to a different perspective on UDL to gain more knowledge and a deeper understanding of the principles. Participants will also investigate supports that help with the implementation of UDL.

Presenter: Jeff McCormick, Program Director, UDL Center at OCALI

Speaker Bio: Jeff McCormick, MS has worked in the field of education since 1986. He has been a teacher in both public and alternative schools. He has managed state projects and grants in assistive and educational technology at the UDL Center at OCALI for 20 years. Mr. McCormick has presented to schools, universities and conferences, both national and international. He presents on a wide range of topics including technology integration, universal design for learning and statewide initiative deployment.


UDL, AEM, and AT: Complementary Supports for the Achievement of ALL Students

Explore ways in which the principles of UDL are used to make flexible, engaging learning environments that support improved participation and outcomes for ALL learners and how individualized special education services such as technology and accessible materials ensure that EVERY student can actively participate and achieve in UDL environments.

Presenter: Kirk D. Behnke, M.Ed., ATP

Speaker Bio: Kirk has presented nationally and internationally on Assistive Technology (AT), Web Tools and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) for over 25 years. He developed the "Assistive Technology Applications Certificate Program (ATACP)" at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) in the late 1990s, was the former Lead for the Texas Assistive Technology Network, and currently works at the Director of Technical Assistance at the National Accessible Educational Materials (AEM) Center at CAST. He holds a Master’s degree in Education and an ATP from RESNA.


Why UDL Needs Growth Mindset and how Appropriate Feedback Helps All Students Learn

Do 100% of your teachers believe all students can learn?  Do 100% of your students believe they can learn? What we're talking about is potential. Really, when we want students to learn, we're trying to tap into some potential, and potential is defined as, "the capacity to become or develop into something in the future." Become better than you are now, do something new that you can't do now. After attending this session be ready to love challenges, be intrigued by mistakes, enjoy effort and keep on learning.

Presenter: Ron Rogers, Regional Consultant, UDL Center at OCALI

Speaker Bio: Ron B. Rogers works directly with Ohio's 16 State Support Teams on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and braiding it into an overall System of Support. In the past, Ron worked with district leadership teams through the Ohio Improvement Process (OIP). Ron worked with districts that were in continuous improvement while assisting them to excellent with distinction. Ron received a Master of Education from The Ohio State University. Ron has over 27 years of professional expertise in the areas of education and criminal justice. Ron has served as a curriculum specialist, director, principal, technology consultant, and classroom teacher. Presently Ron is a Regional Consultant for the UDL Center at OCALI.


What are the Critical Elements of Universal Design for Learning

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) represents a paradigm shift in education that has the potential to improve outcomes for a broad range of students. In this session participants will examine the critical elements of UDL intended to serve as a guide and foundation for integration of the principles. Instruction aligned with the framework of UDL must minimally include four critical elements. The elements will be revealed and reviewed during this intriguing presentation.

Presenter: Jeff Diedrich, Director, MITS

Speaker: Jeff Diedrich is the director at Alt+Shift, an IDEA grant funded initiative through the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education.  Additionally, he is the Lead on behalf of the Michigan Department of Education for the State Systemic Improvement Plan. Jeff's background includes Speech-Language Pathology and Systems Sciences.


Lesson Planning the UDL Way

This session will focus on exploring the UDL framework to design accessible lessons for all learners. Participants will have the opportunity to explore resources that support the lesson planning process including websites and lesson templates. Participants will learn how to udl-ize their lesson plans from the start!

Presenter: Denise Malkovits, Consultant, SST 5

Speaker Bio: Denise Malkovits works as a consultant with State Support Team Region 5 in Ohio specializing in inclusive best practices including co-teaching strategies and structures and universal design for learning. She has taught both general and special education at the elementary, middle and high school levels. She was a special education supervisor for four years for a small rural district in Ohio. Malkovits earned two master's of education degrees from Youngstown State University, one in reading and the other in administration.


The Trials And Tribulations of UDL Implementation from a District and Teacher Perspective

This session will focus on the "Why" of UDL and the process and struggles of "Implementation" from a district and teacher perspective. The story of one district's UDL implementation process and results will be shared, as well as the struggles of one teacher trying to implement UDL into her learning environment and instruction. The district has successfully implemented UDL over the last eight years.  The teacher struggles to implement as the "lone wolf" in a building and district that has not yet embraced UDL. These contrasting stories will highlight common implementation elements and the need for a focus, persistence, and patience.

Presenters: George Van Horn, Director, BCSC. & Shannon Van Horn, Teacher, Trotwood-Madison Public Schools

Speaker Bio: George Van Horn, Ph.D., is director of special education for the Bartholomew Special Services Cooperative in Columbus, IN, and a member of the CAST UDL faculty cadre. Dr. Van Horn completed both his bachelor's of science and master's of science degrees at the University of Dayton. He received his doctor of education degree from Indiana University with a concentration in the areas of school administration and special education.

Speaker Bio: Shannon Van Horn received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Dayton, with a major in special education. At the University of Dayton she was also apart of the Urban Teacher Academy cohort. Shannon served as an Intervention Specialist for two years at Wogaman 5-8 School, Dayton Public Schools. As an Invention Specialist at Wogaman 5-8 School, Shannon led a school team in the development and implementation of Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS). Currently, Shannon is an Intervention Specialist at Westbrooke Village Elementary School with the Trotwood-Madison Public Schools. Shannon completed an internship at CAST and has worked to utilize Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in her practice as an intervention specialist.


Laying a Rock Solid UDL Foundation

Six years of construction and we are still building. Universal Design is worth the blood, sweat, and tears it takes to construct a solid foundation. This session focuses on the building blocks needed for UDL sustainability.

Presenter: Lisa Hite, Administrator, Four County Career Center

Speaker Bio: Lisa Hite has spent the last nine years as an administrator at Four County Career Center. Throughout her 21 years in education, she has worked with students K-12 in public, private, and vocational schools. She’s taught gifted Language Arts, Remedial Reading, general high school English, and College Composition. She and a team of teachers have presented UDL at five conferences including OCALICON. They are also found on OCALI’s website sharing their UDL views.


Universal Design for Learning: One District’s Journey Implementing the Concepts of Universal Design for Learning in Grades K-12

During the 2014-15 school year, Cardinal Local School District, located in Geauga County, participated in the State Personnel Development Grant. In doing so, the district recognized the need for their teachers to be better versed in inclusive best practices.  As a part of their district plan, Cardinal contacted State Support Region 4 to assist in the implementation of Universal Design for Learning. This presentation will be broken into three sections:

  1. The district need, which will focus on the administration’s point of view.
  2. The implementation process, which will focus on how the State Support Team collaborated with the leadership team, building administrators, teachers and OCALI personnel to embed Universal Design for Learning principles in lessons grades K-12.
  3. The boots on ground, which will focus on steps teachers have taken to utilize universal design for learning in their classrooms.

Presenters: Steve Ramos, Consultant, SST 4, Scott Hunt, Superintendent, Cardinal Local Schools, Jennifer Sabol, Administrator, Cardinal MS, Shaun Spence, Teacher, Cardinal MS, Luke Kruse, Cardinal MS

Speaker Bio: Steve Ramos is in his 18th year of education. He has served as a teacher for grades 7-12, served as a building administrator for seven years, work on a federal grant on behalf of the Ohio Department of Education, and is in his third year as a consultant for the State Support Team in Region IV.

Speaker Bio: Dr. Scott Hunt, Superintendent, Cardinal Local Schools, Jennifer Sabol, Cardinal Middle School, Shaun Spence, Teacher, Cardinal Middle School & Luke Kruse, Teacher, Cardinal Middle School

Speaker Bio: Dr. Sabol is serving her third year as the grade 5-8 building principal at Cardinal Middle School. Dr. Sabol began as a French teacher (9 years) and then assistant principal (9 years) and has worked in both inner city and rural settings.

Speaker Bio: Shaun Spence is a 6th grade Social Studies teacher at Cardinal Middle School. Shaun has been a building technology leader during all of his years at Cardinal. He is K-12 certified in technology along with a middle school license in Math/Social Studies. Shaun is passionate about integrating technology effectively into the classroom.

Speaker Bio: Luke Kruse is in his 10th year in education and is an 8th grade Social Studies teacher at Cardinal Middle School in beautiful Geauga County. Luke has been a member of Race to the Top and Career Readiness committees and is also a Varsity Basketball and Middle School Track coach.