The goal of any accommodation is to make curriculum accessible to ALL students. Flexibility of materials and modalities is a core component necessary to reach this goal.
CAST (Founded in 1984 as the Center for Applied Specialized Technology) provides a wealth of information related to Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
According to their website:
"CAST's Mission: To expand learning opportunities for all individuals, especially those with disabilities, through Universal Design for Learning."
Universal Design for Learning is an educational approach with three primary principles :
- Multiple means of representation, to give diverse learners options for acquiring information and knowledge,
- Multiple means of action and expression, to provide learners options for demonstrating what they know,
- Multiple means of engagement, to tap into learners' interests, offer appropriate challenges, and increase motivation
To achieve that Mission, CAST has a wide array of FREE Learning Tools available on their website to support educators, students and families. Check it out
hereThe latest tool available is CAST
Science Writer, which is a free "web based writing tool that supports all students in the science report writing process."
Visit the Learning Tools page for all the CAST tools - here are a couple highlights (and my personal favorites!):
UDL Book Builder - promotes literacy for all students by enabling anyone to create a digital book to support reading.
UDL on line modules - these 2 modules introduce the principles and applications of UDL. Great resource to share with anyone not familiar with UDL.
Visit their website and explore - there is something there for everyone!
Have a good experience with one of the CAST tools?
Share it with us by leaving a comment below.
This is one in a series of podcasts recorded live at the Texas Assistive Technology Network (TATN) Statewide conference this past June. These podcasts feature nationally known speakers talking about a wide range of topics related to assistive technology. 
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