A frontline view from the National Education Association

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Universal Design for Learning Tipping Points
from Research to Practice CEC 2008 Strand B,
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Session 6 Preparing Teachers for UDL
Implementation Lessons from Research and
Practice Session leader Diane Browder,
UNC-Charlotte Presenters Grace Meo, CAST Pat
Previte, Ipswich Middle School Margo Izzo, Ohio
State University Patti Ralabate, National
Education Association Discussant Richard
Jackson, Boston College
If you find these materials useful, heres how to
cite this presentation using the APA
style Ralabate, P. (2008, April 3). A front line
view from the national education association.
Presented at the Council for Exceptional Children
National Convention, Boston, MA.
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A front-line view from the National Education
Association

• Patti Ralabate, Ed.D.
• Senior Policy Analyst
• Special and Gifted Education
• pralabate_at_nea.org

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• Consider the needs of the broadest possible
  range of users from the beginning.
• - Ron Mace, Architect -

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We need to spread the word!
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Why UDL?

• Current instructional practices are not
  appropriate for all learners
• Existence of academic achievement gaps
• Benefits of accessibility vs. retrofitting

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Nea activities
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National

• NEA.org -- Resources www.nea.org/specialed
• National Workgroup on UDL
• Talking points/Messages/Media attention
• Advocacy w/ USDOE Congress
• National Council on Disabilities others
• Software Information Industry/ Publishers

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State

• Webcasts for state affiliates
• Professional Development

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NEA IDEA Special Education Resource Cadre

• Appointed in February 2000
• Reflective of NEAs diverse membership
• Assist NEA members nationwide
• Accurate information about IDEA best
  practices in special ed
• 14 different topics including UDL

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Universal Design for LearningSupporting ALL
students in their learning

• presented by the
• NEA IDEA Special Education Resource Cadre

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Note of Appreciation to

• Rebecca Beck, Center for Applied Special
  Technology (CAST)
• Dave Edyburn, University of Wisconsin
• Beth Mineo Mollica, University of Delaware
• David Rose, Center for Applied Special Technology
  (CAST) and Harvard University
• Grace Meo, Center for Applied Special Technology
  (CAST)
• Mary Ann Siller, American Foundation for the
  Blind
• for their collaboration on development of this
  presentation

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Local

• Focusing on special educators
• Focusing on specific regions
• CAST keynotes
• Follow-up - NEA Cadre presentations

Norman Lawton, Oklahoma
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What we tell our members

• Demand universally-designed products!!!
• Incorporate UDL into your instruction
• Share your UDL-designed plans with others
• Advocate curriculum adoption policies that
  require incorporation of UDL principles

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Its a start but we need to do more !!