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Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
There are many benefits to becoming a part of a UDL-IRN Special Interest Group, including:
- Recognition of UDL SIG leaders on the UDL-IRN website and platform Social and project engagement opportunities at UDL-IRN Summit events
- Opportunities to engage in action research with fellow SIG members
- Opportunities to co-author materials for the IRN website and UDL platform
The goals of UDL-IRN SIGs are to network, collaborate, share, and develop materials and ideas for supporting UDL implementation and research. There are a number of areas in which special interest groups could focus that support the vision and strategic goals of the UDL-IRN.
Examples include (but are not limited to) STEM/ STEAM, instructional design, research, the neuroscience of learning, product development, and digital design.
To learn more, see our UDL-IRN SIG Formation Guidelines. If you would like to start working on an abstract proposal for the formation of a UDL-IRN SIG, please see the Higher Education Proposal as an example.
Proposals and questions can be submitted to mckenzie.nicholis@udl-irn.org.
The Higher Education SIG’s main goal is to develop a network within higher education in order to facilitate sharing of practical strategies, information, and professional development materials. Topics explored within this SIG include misconceptions of UDL, curriculum development, procurement, technology selections, and more. If you are interested in joining this SIG, please contact one of the SIG leaders listed below or join through the Google Group.
Leaders
- JeVaughn Lancaster – Lynn University, JJLancaster@lynn.edu
- Anne Marie Ristow – Higher Education Freelancer, founder@seethingsdifferently.org
This group is focused on gathering best practices for UDL implementation. The collective work that is conducted by this SIG will inform future UDL implementers of the successful and unsuccessful means of providing an education based in the UDL framework. This work will include the consideration of differences in learner variability across different regions with an emphasis on culture, language and other factors. If you are interested in joining this SIG, please contact one of the leaders listed below.
Leaders
- Cherie Smith – State Support Team 6, OH csmith@sst6.org
- Elizabeth Stark – Middle Years / Diploma Programme Learning Support Coordinator, Germany eliza.beth.a.stark@gmail.com
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) was created to support the development of educational standards, instruction, materials, and assessments. However, UDL research on and application to summative and formative assessment has remained limited. We believe that an international forum of multiple stakeholders—including educators—can collectively define effective implementation and research opportunities to establish the role of UDL in improving assessment and measurement.
Leaders
- Bob Dolan – Diverse Learners Consulting, MA bob@diverselearnersconsulting.com
- Cara Laitusis – ETS, NJ claitusis@ets.org
We are a community of educators who are committed to engaging, sustaining and deepening conversations about Universal Design for Learning, anti-racism, and intersectionality. Anti-racist practices are not limited by geographical borders. We anticipate that this SIG will bring together practitioners from many areas. This is both a local and global conversation; we have representatives from multiple continents. Each member of this SIG is charged to recognize ways to share this learning with the UDL community and engage additional UDL practitioners and reflect on how to improve UDL practices within an antiracist lens.
Leaders
- Liz Berquist – Baltimore County PSD, lizberquist@allined.com
- Rene Sanchez – Champlain Valley School District, rsanchez@cvsdvt.org
- Keisha Smith-Carrington – Princeton Public Schools, keishasmith@princetonk12.org
The UDL-IRN CTAE SIG’s mission is to bring together professionals from across the career, technical, and adult education fields who are dedicated to developing UDL-aligned curriculum, engaging in professional development, improving access and inclusion, and advocating on behalf of the people we serve.
Leaders
- Erin Vobornik – Elgin Community College, IL USA, evobornik@elgin.edu
- Aimee Julian, Illinois Center for Specialized Professional Support, IL USA, alafoll@ilstu.edu
- Sarah Goldammer, Southern Illinois Professional Development Center, IL USA, sgoldam@siue.edu
- Tara Schwab, Southern Illinois Professional Development Center, IL, USA, tarschw@siue.edu
Con la necesidad actual de espacios de aprendizaje globales e inclusivos en Latinoamérica, surge un complemento enfocado para llevar a países de habla hispana la comprensión y la práctica del DUA. Como fortalecimiento a UDL-IRN (poner enlace a su sitio web) surge un espacio para Latinos y se extiende la “Red de Investigación e Implementación para DUA” y apoyar cada vez a más personas interesadas en la inclusión e implicación educativa. A través de la colaboración, apoyamos la identificación y el desarrollo de modelos, herramientas, investigaciones y prácticas diseñadas para fomentar el trabajo efectivo del DUA en entornos educativos.
Leaders
- Liliana S. Vidal – Profesora de inglés, Licenciada en Lengua y Literatura Inglés y Máster en enseñanza en inglés como lengua extranjera. Neuroeducadora y Consultora y Asesora académica e inclusión en todas las áreas en inglés y español, lilianavidal602@hotmail.com
- Edgar Palafox – Maestro en Ciencias de la Educación.
Consultor Académico en Educación e Inclusión, red.implica@hotmail.com
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