Resources and Further Information
As we read about the work of our Wickerson Foundation Fund for Educational Leadership and Universal Design grant holders, we were once again struck by UDL’s remarkable flexibility. Within these case studies, we see UDL’s broad focus on means of instruction and assessment, which makes it adaptable to a wide range of disciplinary needs, from biology to cultural studies. We also noted its engagement in a variety of course-formats, from a large introductory nursing class to a multi-section Indigenous studies course, to an upper year cultural studies seminar. Intriguingly, with its holistic view of student learning and success, our chapters reveal that UDL can be woven into other teaching styles, including Indigenous pedagogies and Trauma-Informed Pedagogies. Finally, we were struck by the ways in which UDL works at the micro and macro levels. Indeed, UDL can take the form of a single change, like adopting a new type of assignment, or it can encompass a full-scale course revision. Both will benefit students’ learning and enhance their experience. With this flexibility in mind, we hope that the case studies presented here encourage instructors to experiment with UDL in all its forms and to reflect on the results!
What follows is a list of just some of the resources you may wish to explore related to UDL, including Open Educational Resources, articles, books, and websites.
Open Educational Resources (OERs)
Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching and Learning (GMCTL). (2025). Universal Design for Learning: One small step. University of Saskatchewan. https://openpress.usask.ca/universaldesignforlearning/
Kearney, D.B. (2022). Universal Design for Learning (UDL) for inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility. eCampus Ontario. https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/universaldesign/
Takacs, S., Zhang, J., Lee, H., Truong, L., & Smulders, D. (2021). Universal Design for Learning: A practical guide. JIBC. https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/jibcudl/
Takacs, S., Marom, L., Vanderveen, A, & McNeney, A.R. (2024). Storying Universal Design for Learning. Kwantlen Polytecnic University. https://kpu.pressbooks.pub/storyingudl/
University of Iowa Center for Teaching. (2023). Exploring and applying Universal Design for Learning. University of Iowa. https://pressbooks.uiowa.edu/udl/
Key Articles and Books
Burgstahler, S. (Ed.). (2015). Universal design in higher education : From principles to practice (Second edition.). Harvard Education Press.
Fritzgerald, A. (2022). Antiracism and Universal Design for Learning: Building expressways to success. CAST.
Fornauf, B. S., & Erickson, J. D. (2020). Toward an inclusive pedagogy through Universal Design for Learning in higher education: A review of the literature. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 33(2), 183-199. https://ocul-tu.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01OCUL_TU/1odk209/cdi_eric_primary_EJ1273677
Hall, T. E., Meyer, A., & Rose, D. H. (David H. (2012). Universal design for learning in the classroom : Practical applications. Guilford Press.
Hills, M., Overend, A., & Hildebrandt, S. (2022). Faculty perspectives on UDL: Exploring bridges and barriers for broader adoption in higher education. The Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 13(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.5206/cjsotlrcacea.2022.1.13588
Kennette, L. N., & Wilson, N. A. (2019). Universal Design for Learning (UDL): Student and faculty perceptions. Journal of Effective Teaching in Higher Education, 2(1), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.36021/jethe.v2i1.17
Meyer, A., Rose, D. H. (David H., & Gordon, D. T. (2014). Universal Design for Learning : Theory and practice. CAST.
Rose, D. (2000). Universal Design for Learning. Journal of Special Education Technology, 15(4), 47-51. https://doi.org/10.1177/016264340001500407
Rose, D. H. & Meyer, A. (2006). A practical reader in universal design for learning. Harvard Education Press.
Websites and Organizations
Centre for Applied Special Technology (CAST): https://www.cast.org/
Government of Canada Digital Accessibility Toolkit: https://a11y.canada.ca/en/
Ontario Universities Educator’s Accessibility Toolkit: https://accessiblecampus.ca/tools-resources/educators-tool-kit/
Ontario Universities Accessibility in E-Learning: https://accessiblecampus.ca/tools-resources/educators-tool-kit/course-planning/accessibility-in-e-learning/
Universal Design Network of Canada: https://universaldesign.ca/ud-learning/
Universal Design for Learning Research and Implementation Network: https://udl-irn.org/network/
