National Consortium on Universal Design for Learning

In 1999, CAST launched the National Consortium on Universal Design for Learning. The Consortium is a partnership of general and special educators, schools, and experts who are committed to improving educational outcomes for ALL students, including those with disabilities, through the application of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to classroom practice.

The Consortium fosters shared responsibility and accountability for the education of all children in the general education classroom through the collective expertise of its members, and activities that include research, professional development, demonstration of promising educational practices, and collaboration with experts.

Goals

The National Consortium seeks to:

• Create a community of educators, connected virtually, that works in conjunction with the National Center on Accessing the General Curriculum (NCAC) to advance the understanding and practice of UDL.
• Research and develop promising instructional strategies, curricula, technology tools, and instructional and professional development models.
• Implement promising instructional approaches and materials in Consortium classrooms.
• Evaluate these models in terms of their feasibility, replicability, and expected outcomes.
• Disseminate promising practices and models to schools and educational professionals through NCAC and other vehicles.

Structure

The Consortium encompasses two levels of partnership:

• Direct Practice Partners are educators, schools, or districts selected to participate in classroom-based direct service projects that focus on implementing innovative technology tools, classroom materials, and instructional approaches based on the UDL framework.

• Affiliate Partners are a virtual community of educators, schools, and other professionals who are committed in learning about UDL and to sharing ideas and suggestions with other professionals. Sign up to become a member online!

Direct Practice Partner Projects

The Consortium's Direct Practice Partner projects bring new instructional approaches and tools based on Universal Design for Learning to at-risk children, especially those with disabilities, through classroom-based demonstration projects and research and development initiatives that have a classroom component. Current projects and schools include:

Planning for All Learners: A Universal Design for Learning Curriculum

• Young Achievers Science and Mathematics School, Jamaica Plain, MA
• Lynn Classical High School, Lynn, MA
• Gloucester High School, Gloucester, MA
• Selected schools in Lorain County, OH

Strategic Learning Editions

• Higgins Middle School, Peabody, MA
• IIpswich Middle School, Ipswich, MA
• New Bedford Global Learning Charter School, New Bedford, MA

Thinking Reader Picture Books

• Center Elementary School, Peabody, MA

Trekking the Web

• Sabino High School, Tucson, AZ

Model Classrooms

• Young Achievers Science and Mathematics School, Jamaica Plain, MA
• Ipswich Middle School, Ipswich, MA

Thinking Reader for the Deaf

• Kendall Elementary School, Laurent Clerc Deaf Education Center
  Gallaudet University, Washington, DC
  

Affiliate Partners Program

Special and general education teachers, technology coordinators, administrators, and other professionals have registered to participate in the Consortium as Affiliate Partners from every state in the U.S. and countries throughout the world, including Canada, Israel, India, Iceland, the United Kingdom, and Japan. Affiliate Partners receive information about events, workshops and conferences, a quarterly e-newsletter, invitations to Consortium-hosted events, and opportunities to participate in on-line forums and surveys. Affiliate Partners are also eligible to beta test new CAST software. Sign up now.

Activities

The Consortium's professional development activities bring training and technical assistance to teachers, related specialists, and administrators through workshops at national conferences, seminars, and long-term contracts with state and district-level institutions and organizations.

Coming Up:

• Professional Development for Educators: Institutes, Seminars, Consultation

CAST holds regular Institutes on Universal Design for Learning at CAST. The Institutes are two- and three-day hands-on workshops for general and special educators, administrators, and technology, curriculum, and related specialists.

In addition, the Consortium's professional development staff provides numerous workshops, trainings, and consultations throughout the country. Reaching 1,500 educators annually, these activities range from long-term professional development contracts at the state level to workshops at the local level. Clients have included:

• Region II, IV, VII, and XI Education Service Centers, Texas
• Project MEET (Massachusetts Empowering Educators with Technology)
• Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD)
• Louisiana Educational Development and Advancement with Technology (LEADTech)
• Special Education Training and Resource Center (SETRC), Albany, NY
• The University of Iowa
• The Principal's Center at Harvard University

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Funding

The National Consortium on Universal Design for Learning has received generous support from the following foundations, trusts, and corporations:

John W. Alden Trust

Anonymous

Boston Globe Foundation

The Braitmayer Foundation

Jessie B. Cox Charitable Trust

The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations

Fund for Nonprofit Partnerships in the Boston Public Schools

Hasbro Children's Foundation

The Nord Family Foundation

The Pinkerton Foundation

Raytheon Company

Richard Robinson & Helen Benham Charitable Trust Fund

Edward A. Taft Trust

Register to Become an Affiliate Partner

The National Consortium welcomes individuals who are interested in learning more about Universal Design for Learning to participate as Affiliate Partners. Affiliate Partners are informed of CAST events and publications, invited to join forum discussions, and may be eligible to beta test CAST products. (While a modest membership fee may be introduced later to support the activities of the Affiliate Partners, no fee will be required through at least 2001.)

To apply, please contact Grace Meo at 781-245-2212, or sign-up on-line .