Mission, Vision and People

Mission and History

Founded in 1984 as the Center for Applied Special Technology, CAST is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to expand educational opportunities for individuals with disabilities through the development and innovative uses of technology.

Historically, CAST approached the problem of expanding learning opportunities for people with disabilities by providing clinical services and developing assistive technology for individuals. However, CAST found that this approach places the burden and cost of adaptation on each individual learner and does not address all the barriers within the educational setting that learners with disabilities encounter.

Therefore, in 1994, CAST shifted its approach from clinical services to research, product development, and work in educational settings. We now believe that the most effective strategy for expanding educational opportunities for individuals with disabilities is through Universal Design for Learning. Our work now focuses the development of learning models, approaches, and tools that are usable by a wide range of learners and CAST's impact is seen locally, nationally, and internationally.

Vision: Universal Design for Learning

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a new approach to teaching and learning and the development of curriculum and assessment that draws on current brain research and new media technologies to respond to individual learner differences. UDL curricula, teaching practices, and policies are inherently flexible and therefore may reduce the demand on educators to develop and implement modifications and accommodations to meet individual differences within general education learning environments.

To advance Universal Design for Learning as a national educational priority, CAST:

• Provides national leadership in UDL through its leadership role in the National Center on Accessing the General Curriculum, publications, presentations, and participation in national forums related to education
• Develops and releases educational products, including tools and learning supports that are designed according to the principles of UDL
• Conducts research, professional development, and curriculum planning support in schools and educational settings

People

• Board of Directors
  The CAST 13-member Board of Directors meets four times a year, providing strategic direction and policy setting for the organization.
• Staff
  CAST's 45-member staff, headed by two co-executive directors, includes specialists in education, special education, reading and language arts, occupational therapy, neuropsychology, engineering, clinical/school psychology, vision rehabilitation, telecommunications and technology policy, information systems, research, accounting, writing, and administrative and media support.