NH-ME LEND Director Sarah Smith and Faculty Member Marnie Morneault presenting at the AUCD Conference on behalf of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Workgroup
Last Month, NH-ME LEND showcased our valued work integrating the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) into our LEND curriculum at the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) Annual Conference.
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework to guide the design of learning environments that are accessible, inclusive, equitable, and challenging for every learner. Following the conference theme, “Stronger Together: Creating a More Inclusive World,” NH-ME LEND Director Sarah Smith presented at the LEND Director’s Meeting and poster session the work of our interdisciplinary faculty group, who was tasked to further refine our UDL curriculum to successfully integrate the Self-Advocacy Discipline. The poster highlighted opportunities identified to develop, implement, and evaluate changes that support the needs of all learners, not just self-advocates.
“Elevating the success of our trainees and removing barriers is paramount to the success of our program. We continually assess the ways students receive information and the ways they represent what they have learned. Over the past three years, the collective wisdom, experience, and collaboration of our UDL workgroup continues to result in improvements and forward momentum in the success of current and future trainees.” Stacy Driscoll, Co-Training Director, University of New Hampshire.
Enhanced accessibility and inclusive participation within the LEND seminar are key. Challenges identified include finding the correct balance of volume and complexity of course content and meeting the communication needs of every LEND learner. Future opportunities for growth include partnering more closely with Student Accessibility Services at UNH and UMaine and supporting accommodations within clinical and leadership placements in the states of New Hampshire and Maine.
“The NH-ME LEND UDL workgroup has forged a path to continuously review all aspects of our NH-ME LEND program to provide an accessible learning experience. As we have navigated our program development in this topic, it has also provided an opportunity for discovery and reflection collectively and individually to build our skills and capacity in UDL as faculty.” Marnie Morneault, Family Faculty, University of Maine.
UDL Workgroup Contributors: Stacy Driscoll, MEd, ATP; Sarah Smith, DSc, OTR/L; Amy Frechette, BA; Kathy Bates, BA; Susan Zimmermann, PhD; Marnie Morneault MEd
