Prerequisite: CAST’s Introduction: Explore Universal Design for Learning in Postsecondary.
In order to create lasting change and implement Universal Design for learning, you must first understand your environment. This course focuses on tools and strategies that will help you analyze what is happening at your institution and use that as the basis of decision making and action. The tools focus on understanding user experience and where barriers lie, examining policies and their relationship to inclusive practices, considering assessments from a social justice lens, and planning to engage people, the real agents of change, in a community of practice.
With a focus on application, this course will expose participants to tools and strategies for building UDL practices into the existing processes and policies at their institution, including:
- To be able to use 2-3 tools that help them analyze a learning experience and help themselves and others understand where the barriers are and how to address them.
- Delve into redesigning a core curricular component using UDL and evaluate the results.
- Bring theories and practices into design to improve the social nature of learning.
- Plan for implementing UDL in your setting: set up a small leadership team, think about UDL messaging, identify how the team will work together and what common tools you will use, and engage in ongoing learning, set priorities for first year.
- For those that have already developed a plan, identify implementation pain points/challenges and come up with strategies for addressing any barriers.
The course will be structured using a community of practice model where participants will be welcomed to share problems of practice from their own settings that will serve as starting points for discussion and brainstorming of potential approaches and solutions with wide applicability.
Who should enroll?
This course is designed for professionals in postsecondary settings who after participating in the introductory course have gained a basic understanding of UDL and accessibility core concepts and are now ready to apply the UDL framework to bring about institutional change that results in more accessible and inclusive environments through changes in policies, procedures, and practices.
To learn more about this online course, contact Monica Pascoa, Workforce Operations & Project Coordinator at mpascoa@cast.org.
Course Structure
This eight-week course consists of 4 modules, each lasting two weeks in length. We will begin with a 90-minute live Zoom presentation welcoming you to the course and explaining the following eight weeks.
Each module will include 60-90 minutes of self-paced content, and one facilitated small group meeting. Small group meetings will occur on a bi-weekly basis.
There will be a second 90-minute live Zoom presentation midway through to the course to gather the large group together for a check-in. Lastly, we will conclude the course with a 90-minute live wrap-up Zoom presentation in August.
All live sessions will be recorded and posted on the website for those who may need to miss a session, though we encourage you to be present, if possible, to get the most of your learning experience.
Live Zoom Presentations
All presentations will be held from 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. ET
- Monday, June 16, 2025: Course Kickoff
- Monday, July 14, 2025: Mid-course Check-in
- Friday, August 8, 2025: Course Wrap-Up
Refund Policy: Full refunds will be given to participants who email their withdrawal up to 7 days after the start of the course. Due to course demand, grading, and other work done on the part of course instructors and administrators, no refunds can be provided for withdrawals or no-shows once the above-listed deadlines have passed.
Online Course Withdrawal Policy: Withdrawals must be submitted via email to Monica Pascoa, Workforce Operations & Project Coordinator at mpascoa@cast.org.
