Instructional Design that Advances Inclusive Education 

Alisa Lowrey, PhD

Indiana University Bloomington

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework that anticipates and removes barriers within general curriculum to address the variable needs of learners. Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) is individually tailored instruction, aligned with an individualized education program, to assist learners access the general curriculum. UDL and SDI have complementary roles in advancing inclusive education. UDL establishes a universally accessible baseline curriculum and SDI augments that design with individualized accommodations and modifications . To achieve true inclusion, educators must implement both UDL and SDI by designing flexible, anticipatory instructional strategies for the classroom and using individualized strategies for specific students. Used together, UDL and SDI ensure that each learner is met where they are and moved toward successful outcomes. 

Diane Morin, PhD, FAAIDD appointed Chevalier of the National Order of Quebec