Challenge C – Substantive Post #2
When I think of accessibility within learning, in terms of through a UDL lens, this is the exact frame of mind that supports inclusion. It isn’t just about meeting a list of standards that are laid out in front of us, it is about design with inclusion as the mindset. The three go hand in hand, and when I look at the page we explored in class on accessible multimedia this idea is supported. One quote I found interesting on this page was “Disability is a mismatch between a person’s abilities and their environments.” Essentially what this is telling us is that accessibility should be focused on creating learning experiences that meet the needs of our learners as opposed to us expecting that these diverse needs are just going to adapt to a system that simply isn’t designed in such a way for them to thrive.
The following video titled “UDL at a glance” supports the following three guiding principles: multiple means of representation, engagement and action/expression. These guiding principles, as demonstrated in the video, can be aligned with various kinds of multimedia design practices. Design designs such as these are considered to be fundamental in terms of expressing different forms of inclusive pedagogy that are not just add-ons.
In essence, how we view design itself is defined or perhaps even re-defined by accessibility within UDL. We aren’t just making accommodations for our learners, but we are celebrating them and their learning journey. By having an inclusive mindset like this, multimedia and interactive learning spaces are built in such a way that they are able to mold into being a place where every learner is able to be engaged, connect with each other and just truly be able to thrive.
Reference
CAST. (2010). UDL At A Glance [Video]. Youtube. (18) UDL At A Glance – YouTube