One example of universal design in engineering I can think of is dimmers. After listening to the “Teaching in Higher Ed” podcast episode on supporting ADHD learners, I have learned that individuals with ADHD are often more vulnerable to sensory overwhelm. Bright lighting can create an overstimulating environment, so having the option of using a dimmer could help lower the intensity of such stimulation and make it easier for those individuals to relax and concentrate on their tasks. I believe that dimmers fit within the Universal Design framework because they can benefit all users. For example, when I go to brush my teeth in the morning, using a dimmer can help reduce the pain in my eyes as they are especially sensitive to light after waking up.

We could think of dimmers as a representation for a more manageable workload in education. In the podcast episode, Karen Costa mentions the importance of helping ADHD learners ‘land the plane’ by asking them for ‘do’ in addition to ‘due’ dates and helping them schedule those. She explains that this technique helps reduce the confusion and overwhelm that ADHD learners tend to experience when they struggle with figuring out how to break down tasks in order to complete them by certain deadlines.

This concept of guidance is covered in Kayla’s post that describes ways in which she as a future teacher will support her learners’ needs.

EDCI 335 – Blog Post 3 – Inclusive Design

An example Kayla brings up is side-by-side reading, and I think it is a great demonstration of flexibility that we as educators can show to make learning more accessible in our classrooms. Side-by-side reading is an activity in which both the instructor and learner set the pace and focus. Teachers could use this technique to better connect with their learner, understand which particular areas their learner needs support in, and guide their progress in a more personalized way.

Stachowiak, B. (Host). (2021, October 21). Supporting ADHD Learners, with Karen Costa (No. 384) [Audio podcast episode]. In Teaching in Higher Ed. Innovate Learning. https://teachinginhighered.com/podcast/supporting-adhd-learners/