Top FAQ 6: What are the differences between assistive technology and Universal Design for Learning?
Children with physical or language disabilities need properly designed wheelchairs, adaptive switches to control their environment, speech synthesizers, and other assistive devices. Assistive technologies will always have a role in the education of learners with disabilities, and Universal Design for Learning will not eliminate the need for personal assistive devices. However, exclusive emphasis on assistive technologies places the burden of adaptation on the learner, not the curriculum. The idea that students must procure or “be prescribed” special individual tools whenever they cannot use standard curricula undermines learning for everyone. Exclusively print-based tools and methods, uncaptioned videos and software, images and posters that lack text descriptions, all create a culture of failure for many of our children. UDL curriculum materials assume diverse learner goals, learner profiles, and assessment methods, and therefore are designed with flexibility as the keystone. UDL mater
