Issue Number 11: March 10, 2003

CAST National Consortium on Universal Design for Learning News

Greetings, Readers

For many students with disabilities, the limitations of print technology raise barriers to access, and therefore barriers to learning.

In this issue, we highlight the role of printed text in the general curriculum, its advantages and limitations, and alternatives to support diverse learners. We also focus on the National File Format Initiative, which was awarded to CAST/NCAC for the purpose of establishing a voluntary national standard for accessible digital instructional materials for students with disabilities. Our hope is that the following information will offer you ideas and activities that you can use in your work with all learners. We would love to hear from you; please feel free to offer comments through your "My CAST" account.

**Professional Development … Universal Design, Access to the General Curriculum, and Technology** Read item #7 for more information

1. Understanding the Role of Text in the General Education Curriculum
2. An Example: Expanding Printed Text to Support Diverse Learners
3. What are the Issues that Prevent Access to Digital Media?
4. Are there Standards for Developing a National File Format?
5. Federal and State Legislation Regarding Accessible Instructional Materials
6. Finding Digital Resources
7. Professional Development Opportunities offered by CAST staff
8. "Hot off the Press"… Digital Literature: How technology and literature-based instruction can support literacy development
9. Funding Opportunities
10. Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age: Universal Design for Learning
11. Newsletter Archive
12. "On The Road" with CAST

1. Understanding the Role of Text in the General Education Curriculum

Printed text is so central, so powerful, and so ubiquitous in our culture that we rarely pause to consider its limitations and the way those limitations affect learners. Take a look at the following link to better understand the advantages and limitations of printed text. http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/ideas/tes/chapter3_9.cfm

2. An Example: Expanding Printed Text to Support Diverse Learners

Most of us recognize Dr. Martin Luther King's famous "I have a dream…" speech in print format; however, the power of this speech is more clearly demonstrated when presented in multiple formats. See for yourself by linking to:
Teaching Every Student Chapter 3.

3. What are the Issues that Prevent Access to Digital Media?

It is essential that educators understand the issues that prevent access to the general education curriculum for students with disabilities to better prepare students to meet high standards. Look at http://www.cast.org/ncac/index.cfm?i=3140#barriers to understand the barriers to access.

4. Are there Standards for Developing a National File Format?

Robert H. Pasternack, assistant secretary for special education and rehabilitative services, has said that "It is critical for a uniform format to be established in order to coordinate the efforts of various groups interested in providing accessible instructional materials to states, schools, educators, and students." To learn more about the National File Format, read: http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/11-2002/11152002a.html and http://www.cast.org/ncac/index.cfm?i=3140#fullfill.

5. Federal and State Legislation Regarding Accessible Instructional Materials

If you are interested in learning more about federal and state legislation regarding accessible media, link to http://www.cast.org/ncac/index.cfm?i=3122. This site also provides readers with a chart of states that have already begun to draft and adopt laws regarding accessible curriculum materials.

6. Finding Digital Resources

Finding digital resources is a challenge for educators who are trying to make the general curriculum accessible to their students. Link to the following URLs to find resources:
http://www.cast.org/udl/index.cfm?i=211&option=OnlineResources
http://www.cast.org/udl/index.cfm?i=206&s=y&searchby=level2&level1_ID=1&level2_ID=1 and
http://www.cast.org/udl/index.cfm?i=211&option=Finding

7. Professional Development Opportunities

Training Opportunities: Universal Design, Access to the General Curriculum, and Technology
http://www.cast.org/udl/index.cfm?i=2377

Address the challenge of meeting the needs of diverse learners by making curriculum and course materials accessible for ALL! Professionals are invited to attend 2-day or 3-day hands-on workshops that highlight Universal Design for Learning (UDL), an instructional approach to teaching through flexible applications of technology tools, networks, and digital content.

Upcoming Spring Institute:
- Thursday and Friday, April 24 & 25, 2003

Upcoming Summer Institutes:
- Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, June 25, 26, and 27, 2003
- Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, July 21, 22, and 23, 2003
- Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, August 18, 19, and 20, 2003

eReader Training:
eReader software and documentation are available

Call Leslie O'Callaghan at 888-858-9994, ext. 273, mailto:pd@cast.org, or register online.

8. "Hot Off the Press" … Digital Literature: How technology and literature-based instruction can support literacy development

Lucinda O'Neill from CAST says, "Teachers can use that magic to turn indifferent readers into excited readers, and excited readers into skillful ones, using literature-based instruction." Read more by linking to:
Digital Literature

9. Funding Opportunities

3Com, in cooperation with the United States Conference of Mayors, provides cities/school districts across the nation with grants of $100,000 worth of 3Com products and services to incorporate new uses for information technology in their communities. Applications can be requested online at the 3Com Web site. RFP Link: http://www.3com.com/solutions/en_US/scenario.jsp?solutiontype=1000004&groupid=11060&solutionid=5960

The Beaumont Foundation of America is a new philanthropic entity dedicated to providing technology equipment (hardware) to underserved schools, community organizations, and individuals. Information link: http://bmtfoundation.com/

The 2003 Shaklee Teacher Award includes a $1,000 unrestricted cash award and a Shaklee Teacher Award sculpture. RFP Link: http://www.shakleeinstitute.org/ta.html

10. Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age: Universal Design for Learning

You can purchase Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age from the following locations:
ASCD Online Store
http://shop.ascd.org/ProductDisplay.cfm?ProductID=101042
or at Amazon.com
http://http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0871205998/qid=1019570143/sr=1-5/"

11. Newsletter Archive

This issue: http://www.cast.org/udl/index.cfm?i=3215

Online archive of the Consortium newsletter: http://www.cast.org/udl/index.cfm?i=1100

12. "On The Road" With Cast

Members of the CAST staff present at many conferences throughout the year. If CAST is in your area, you might like to stop in at one of these presentations.

• Conference: Kentucky Teaching & Learning Conference
  URL: http://www.kentuckytlc.org/
  Location: Louisvill, Kentucky
  Date: March 6-8, 2003
  Presenter: David Rose
  

• Conference: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
  URL: http://www.ascd.org/cms/index.cfm?TheViewID=446&showsubs=0,354
  Location: San Francisco, CA
  Date: March 8-10, 2003
  Presenter: David Rose and Grace Meo
  

• Conference: 30th Annual Conference on Dyslexia and Related Learning Disabilities, sponsored by The International Dyslexia Association (IDA)
  URL: http://www.interdys.org/servlet/viewbranch?branch_id=25
  Location: New York Marriott Marquis in the heart of the theater district, NY
  Date: March 21-22, 2003
  Presenter: Bart Pisha

• Conference: CSUN
  URL: http://www.csun.edu/cod/conf/index.htm
  Location: Los Angeles, California
  Date: March 17 - 22, 2003
  Stop by and meet Gaby King and Chuck Hitchcock at our eReader booth

• Conference: International Reading Association (IRA)
  URL: http://www.reading.org/2003/
  Location: Orlando, Florida
  Date: May 4-8, 2003
  Meet Gaby King at our eReader booth.
  

Thank you for your interest in CAST and our work. It is our intention to send this newsletter only to people who have requested to receive it. If you believe you are receiving this in error or wish to no longer receive it, you can unsubscribe by sending a message to mailto:natconsortium@cast.org with a subject of "unsubscribe consortium".

Grace J. Meo
Co-Director of the National Consortium on Universal Design for Learning
mailto:gmeo@CAST.org
http://www.cast.org