This is the third in a series of three webinars presented by the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston on meeting the needs of students with disabilities in adult education. 

This webinar will take a look at universal design, an approach that considers the needs of all learners collectively. This approach is to the benefit of all students and accounts for the full variety of learning needs and preferences, while reducing the need for accommodations for learners with specific challenges as a result of disability, language issues, literacy issues, etc. We will start by defining universal design and review the 7 principles of universal design for learning. We will then provide examples of universal design in our everyday lives, and in turn discuss how universal design applies specifically to adult education. Attendees will be encouraged to share their own examples and ideas, and the opportunities and challenges presented by universal design will be discussed. At the end of the webinar, attendees will have a good understanding of the benefits of universal design and how  it can be utilized to ensure student success in adult education in a way that’s mutually beneficial to all. 

While we recommend that you participate in all three webinars to take advantage of this opportunity for deepening your learning, participation in all three is not required.

Webinar #1: Tuesday, December 10, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m., will address legal and practical issues.

Webinar #2: Tuesday, January 7, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., will address understanding disability and disability etiquette.