Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Learners with Severe Needs

This article presents the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework as one way to understand how to support learners with severe disabilities and how to support their access to authentic and appropriate curricula that improves their quality of life. Two key ideas from the UDL framework, (a) understand learner variability and (b) supporting the expert learner, are reviewed and used to address the education of learners with severe disabilities. By using the curricula in ways that will create greater and more inclusive options for all students. The article shows how UDL can be used to support reform for the population and how this will improve education for all learners.