Universal Design for Learning: Facilitator to Inclusive Education for Children with Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

This article aims to explain the concept of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and how it facilitates Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities (CwDs). UDL is an approach towards achieving inclusive education by enabling the provision of flexible instructional strategies from the onset and this approach is increasingly gaining attention. UDL allows learners from diverse socio-economic, cultural, experiential background and varied abilities to get access of learning by adopting various means and methods of teaching that are in line to the principles of UDL. Universal design (UD) is commonly used in field of architecture, designing and hence its derived concept must be considered while developing physical environment of school as it also contributes in learning of children specifically for children with intellectual disabilities. Education is a fundamental Right and supporting acts like Right to Education Act, 2009 and The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 allows Children with Disabilities (CwDs) to get admitted in their nearby mainstream/general school and get admission in age appropriate classroom. Awareness regarding disability and its inclusion has increased the diversity in a classroom and hence general education teacher must be equipped with skills to deliver education to all and meet learning objectives with such diverse group of learners. The results have shown that UDL framework can contribute significantly in making inclusive education a success for children with disabilities. Teacher training and professional development programs need to be developed to enable teachers to learn and implement UDL in their lesson plans and execute same in classroom considering varied abilities of learners in a classroom.