Universal Instructional Design
Rationale and Statistics
In their report The Opportunity to Succeed: Achieving Barrier-Free Education for
Students with Disabilities (2003), the Ontario Human Rights Commission reported:
“In the context of post-secondary education…accessibility goes beyond physical
accessibility to include accessible curricula, and delivery and evaluation methodology”
(p. 46).
There are increasing enrolment rates at post-secondary institutions in Ontario. These
increases also include students from diverse backgrounds who have a range of needs,
including those with disabilities. For example, in 2001-02, 21, 737 students received
some type of accommodation due to disability-related needs at Ontario colleges and
universities (OHRC, 2003). Between 2009 and 2010 the number of students registered
with disability services offices at postsecondary institutions in Ontario was 40, 803
(Tsagris & Muirhead, 2012). The need to provide accommodations to students with
disabilities is required by law. However, implementing principles of universal design can
decrease the need for individual accommodations and benefit all students (Rickerson,
Souma & Burgstahler, 2004).
International students are another group that bring a range of diverse backgrounds and
learning needs to the educational environment. Currently, international students comprise
7.5% of all enrolment in post-secondary education across Canada; the number of
international students in Canadian post-secondary institutions has increased by 36% since
2007 (Government of Canada, 2012).
References
Government of Canada (2012). International Education: A key driver of Canada’s future
prosperity. Advisory Panel on Canada’s International Education Strategy Final Report.
Retrieved from Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada:
http://www.international.gc.ca/education/report-rapport/strategystrategie/index.aspx?view=d#introduction
The Ontario Human Rights Commission (2003). The Opportunity to Succeed: Achieving
Barrier-Free Education for Students with Disabilities: Consultation Report. Retrieved
from www.ohrc.on.ca
Rickerson, N., Souma, A. & Burgstahler S. (2004). Psychiatric disabilities in
postsecondary education: Universal design, accommodations and supported education.
Tsagris, D., & Muirhead, B. (2012). Evaluating postsecondary supports for Ontario
students with learning disabilities. Toronto: Higher Education Quality Council of
Ontario.