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NCAC: What is UDL?: Access, Participation, and Progress in the General Curriculum: Resources

Resources

National Center for Accessing the General Curriculum (NCAC)

http://www.cast.org/ncac

CAST established NCAC in 1999 through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs, as part of a national initiative that emerged from IDEA’97. The National Center draws on the talents of five partners who are already established leaders in their fields to provide leadership in using the UDL framework to increase access to the general education curriculum for all learners. NCAC is investigating and making recommendations in 4 major areas: policy and legal issues, curriculum design, teacher preparation and training, and building consensus among varied stakeholders.

Agreement Number H324H990004, December 1, 1999 - November 30, 2004

Bonnie D. Jones, Project Officer, U.S. Department of Education
David Rose, Principal Investigator, CAST

Chuck Hitchcock, Project Director, CAST

Office of Special Education Programs, US Office of Education (OSEP)

http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/OSEP/index.html

The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) in the U.S. Department of Education provides funding for the National Center on Accessing the General Curriculum. OSEP has primary responsibility for administering programs and projects relating to the free appropriate public education of all children, youth and adults with disabilities, from birth through age 21.

CAST

http://www.cast.org/

Founded in 1984 as the Center for Applied Special Technology, CAST is a not-for-profit organization that uses technology to expand learning opportunities for all people, especially those with disabilities. Visit the CAST Web site to learn more about CAST’s work and Universal Design for Learning.

Teaching Every Student: TES Web site

http://www.cast.org/tes

The Teaching Every Student (TES) Web site is an interactive learning environment that explains and exemplifies CAST¹s concept of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and forms a bridge between UDL theory and classroom practice. Through TES:

• Gain a thorough understanding of what UDL is all about: its roots in brain, media, technology, and educational research; the nature of the theory itself; and how UDL can help reach diverse learners by setting goals carefully, supporting varied paths to learning, and assessing students fairly.
• Find tutorials, tools, activities and scaffolds to help apply UDL in the classroom.
• Connect with CAST researchers, colleagues, and others interested in usingUDL to reach and teach all learners.

Universal Learning Center (ULC)

http://www.ulc.cast.org/

The ULC is Web-based resource designed to provide educators, parents, and students with accessible and universally designed core curriculum materials. It is also designed to support schools wishing to find an authorized method for obtaining digital content appropriate under the copyright exemption for individuals with disabilities (Section 316 of Pub. L. 104-197 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1997)

National Consortium on Universal Design for Learning

www.cast.org/nationalconsortium

CAST recently announced the formation of the National Consortium on UDL, a community of educators and other professionals dedicated to developing systemic practice models that better serve the educational needs of all students, including those with disabilities. The principles of Universal Design for Learning are central to the mission of the National Consortium.

Bobby WorldWide

http://www.cast.org/bobby

The leading Web-based program is helping designers make sites accessible to the largest possible number of people, especially those with disabilities. This interactive tool examines Web pages to identify potential barriers to access and is available in two formats: an online server version and a downloadable client application. Many businesses have expressed their support for Web accessibility by sponsoring Bobby in the past, including long-time supporter IBM Corporation.

IDEA’97

http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/IDEA/index.html

This Act strengthens academic expectations and accountability for the nation’s 5.8 million children with disabilities and bridges the gap that has too often existed between what children with disabilities learn and what is required in regular curriculum.

IDEA’97 Amendments, Final Regulations

http://www.ideapractices.org/lawandregs.htm

Assistance to States for the Education of Children With Disabilities and the Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers With Disabilities (OSERS), March 12, 1999.

IDEA Partnership Projects

http://www.ideainfo.org

The IDEA Partnerships are four national projects funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (Office of Special Education Programs) bringing together administrators, families/advocates, policymakers and service providers. This new gateway Web site provides links to the following four partners, as well as to the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and the U.S. Department of Education:

• The IDEA Local Implementation by Local Administrators (ILIAD)
• The Families and Advocates Partnership for Education (FAPE)
• The Policy Maker Partnership for Education (PMP)
• The Associations of Services Providers Implementing IDEA Reforms in Education (ASPIIRE)

Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)

http://www.cec.sped.org/

CEC is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted. CEC advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides continual professional development, advocates for newly and historically underserved individuals with exceptionalities, and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice.

National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE)

http://www.nasdse.org/index.htm

The National Association of State Directors of Special Education, Inc. (NASDSE) promotes and supports education programs for students with disabilities in the United States and outlying areas. NASDSE is a not-for-profit corporation established in 1938.