Using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Framework for Accessibility and Inclusivity in Library Instruction

Abstract

Students are diverse not only in terms of age, race, sex, (dis)Ability, ethnicity, religion, political beliefs, but also they are different in the ways of how they learn. As dedicated educators, we strive to ensure that our students have equal opportunities to learn and be fully engaged in instruction. Digital technologies, online resources and mobile devices coupled with the guiding principles of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Framework and the University of Maryland (UMD) Web Accessibility Guidelines allowed us to tailor our instruction practices to create an inclusive and accessible learning environment for every student. We incorporated various tools and resources to achieve the learning objectives set up for our library instruction classes. In this presentation, we will highlight some examples of applying the UDL framework and web accessibility principles into our instruction efforts.