Universal design for learning as an educational and organisational challenge for an accessible university

Abstract

Universities are taking up the challenge of inclusion: they are increasingly becoming institutions open to change, to flexibility in their pathways. They are not limiting themselves to implementing strategies and tools to ensure the attendance of students with disabilities and DSA, but are actively engaged in promoting successful educational pathways. Underlying this new vision is the right to accessibility of university studies for all. Universal Design for Learning represents an opportunity to create inclusive learning environments also in university settings. To date, this approach, despite its effectiveness in the various degrees of education, has not yet been implemented in higher education, at least in Italy. This paper proposes, starting from an article by Rose and colleagues from 2006, some suggestions for a concrete translation of the design and organisational vision provided by UDL in the university context.