Universal Learning Design for Students with Special Needs

Universal design for learning (UDL) has become a popular instructional approach in special education with the growing awareness of the necessities to providing access to the general curriculum for individuals with special needs. The aim of UDL is to reduce all potential barriers to learning and enhance learning opportunities for students with special needs. Universal design for learning by adaptation of environments, the use of flexible educational materials, providing a variety of instructional strategies, providing engagement opportunities for all students and providing multiple means of expression provide the background of developing the abilities of all students.
Various researches introduce universal design for learning as an effective and premising method to meet the educational needs of all students. Teachers and experts are invited to revise the nature of their curriculum and apply strategies and principles of universal design for learning. In this review paper, after a brief introduction, universal design for learning has been defined. Then the history of universal design for learning is given. After that the principles of universal design for learning and its application in Iran is given and finally conclusion is expressed.