Universal Design

The following are some of the advantages of universal design in education; not only students with disability benefit from this universal design, it also helps the normal students to enhance their learning. Universal design electronic textbook information is scalable, modifiable to fit every child’s needs. The control panel could also be adjusted to enhance students’ accessibility. For example, ‘Universal Design-Slider’ in a computer could be turned on or off in order to assist with student’s learning need. The user could customize and make adjustments in the contents of their interest from this design. Moreover, any student could use and benefit from this design to achieve higher level of learning.

The universal design textbooks allow the users to manipulate the control panel which allows modifications in a computer setting to assist specific needs of a child. The students with physical disabilities would access the computer at their pace and learn the required material. Students with cognitive disabilities could also be assisted with this design. Since this book allows customization, teachers could modify the contents to meet the needs of a child. This book is also user friendly, so the user could also do some adjustments to study the contents. Traditional textbooks do not allow modification and so customization is not possible. Students with emotional disability would not benefit from the traditional books, but this e-books allows them to do some changes in their computer environment and adjust according to their learning style. So, using this book motivates them to learn.

Every individual learn differently and follow different strategies. Same curriculum does not fit all instructional material, but integration of universal design will definitely ensure individualized learning. It helps to enhance learning process. The dimension of Education changes which also ensures quality, if used appropriately. To achieve this, teachers should be well informed about the integration of technology in assisting the students with special needs in teaching the material. As a teacher I would benefit from this design to satisfy many of my students’ needs. This design would help me to assist my teaching to reach every child in my classroom.