Curriculum Design for Inclusive Arts Teaching and Learning

A Universally Designed Staircase

Universally designed main staircase that integrates ramp, stairs, and railings.

Universal Design

Design “…products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.”

–Ron Mace

The Universal Design movement in architecture has also been foundational for Universal Design for Learning. Universal Design was developed by Ron Mace and his colleagues as a set of seven principles that could be applied to the up-front design of architecture, environments, and products that would remove barriers and provide the broadest level of access to everyone.

Universal Design is used as a metaphor to advocate for up-front design to remove as many barriers to the curriculum and make it as accessible, inclusive, and interactive to a broadest amount of learners as possible.

Created with CAST's UDL Book Builder
CAST would like to thank Texthelp Inc. for use of the SpeechStream toolbar

Universal Design for Learning uses the removal of barriers in architecture as a metaphor for the up-front design of curricular options and supports. Staircases can be barriers to access for people with physical disabilities. This image shows an aesthetically designed solution that provides various mobility options and supports for everyone to use like steps, a ramp, and handrails.

Listen

To learn more, the website of the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University explains the Universal Design principles, history, resources, and services.

Listen

Select this then click anywhere in the book to start reading text Speak the current selection Stops speech playback Double-click a word in the book and click this icon to translate the word into Spanish