The right to reasonable accommodation and Universal Design for Learning: Captaine Universe for Learning?

Since the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (13 December 2006), schools have rightly recognised the importance of granting reasonable adjustments for pupils with special educational needs. However, applying those reasonable adjustments in the reality of a classroom and school proves complex. We ask the following question; when in a class for very many pupils, specific adaptations appear to be needed in addition to the regular approach, is the 'regular approach' adequately designed to suit all pupils?

Onderzoeksthema: Diversiteit en inclusie; Ruimte voor verbinding en groei

Interessegebied: Education

Looptijd: 31/12/2015 - 31/12/2016

Financing: PWO

Universal Design for Learning or Universal Design may be an answer here. UDL provides a scientific framework to develop a curriculum that can be used by everyone, in the widest sense, without the need for specific adaptation or design. However, there are still many questions about the scope of UDL, including in terms of assessment and evaluation.

Given this pressing reality, we want to investigate, in close cooperation with Flemish schools, to what extent education can be designed more universally so that the (specific) educational needs of pupils are taken into account right from the start.

To this end, we will ask teachers, student counsellors and pupils in secondary education about their experiences and about the application possibilities of UDL. The research results will be processed into content for web pages of an informative website on UDL in (secondary) education.

The result of this research can be found here.