What is Universal Design for Learning?

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) has emerged over the past three decades as one of the most transformative frameworks in educational theory and practice. Rooted in the neurosciences and inspired by the architectural principles of universal design, UDL offers a proactive, systemic approach to curriculum design that seeks to eliminate barriers to learning before they arise, rather than retrofitting accommodations after the fact. As Martha L. Minow of Harvard Law School has observed, UDL is 'one of the few big and truly transformative ideas to emerge in education in the last two decades.'