Universal design is described as:

“The design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialised design…

The intent of universal design is to simplify life for everyone by making products, communications, and the built environment more usable by as many people as possible at little or no extra cost.  Universal design benefits people of all ages and abilities." (Center of Universal Design, 1997)

The concept of Universal Design was developed by people who worked on designing equipment and environments for people with a disability.  They saw that it was more beneficial and cost-efficient to make original designs accessible, rather than adapt things later.  They believed that these inclusive original designs would in fact benefit many people, not just those with a disability.

Universal Design meets the needs of diverse learners

The Australian Flexible Learning Framework has published a range of guides and checklists to help online designers meet the needs of people from a range of groups, including:

• learners with literacy needs

• Indigenous Australian learners

• learners with disabilities

• women e-learners

• rural and remote e-learners; and

• isolated metropolitan e-learners

These useful guides are valuable examples of how good design gives access to more people more easily.  The guides are available online in PDF and MS Word formats.  An online tutorial is also available, at: http://flexiblelearning.net.au/accessequity/aboutus/aboutus.htm

The guides are also available in HTML at: http://www.westone.wa.gov.au/workingwithdiversity/

Different Learning Styles

Good training has always been about application of universal design principles to deliver training that suits learners with different learning styles.

Extending this practice to meet specific needs of learners with a disability is a natural progression.

A learning styles inventory is available online from Suzanne Miller at: http://www.metamath.com//lsweb/dvclearn.htm

Trainers can identify their own learning preferences, and consider how this affects their training delivery.