ADCET Panel Session: Learning Together: UDL 3.0 in Action - Practitioners Share their Journeys and Insights

Wed 5 Mar 2025 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm AEDT

Online

Event details

This Panel Session aims to share the experiences, challenges, and successes in implementing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to meet the UDL Guidelines 3.0. Join Elizabeth Hitches as she facilitates this informative session with guest speakers Sarah Humphreys, Trina Bianchini and John Fardoulis.

The UDL Guidelines are a living, dynamic tool that is continuously developed based on new research and feedback from practitioners. The latest iteration of the UDL Guidelines responds to a strong call from both practitioners and researchers alike to address critical barriers rooted in biases and systems of exclusion for learners with and without disabilities. These updated guidelines call on us to think about not just the "what", "why" and "how" of learning, but the "who", recognising and truly welcoming the diversity of our learners.

The panel discussion will explore:

• Practical approaches to implementing UDL 3.0 principles
• Learning experiences and adaptations along the way
• What's working well and what continues to be challenging
• Ideas for supporting and encouraging broader UDL adoption

The session will consist of guided questions and welcomes audience participation to create an engaging discussion about the real-world application of UDL principles. 

Facilitator

Elizabeth Hitches is a PhD candidate at the Institute for Social Science Research, University of Queensland (UQ), Australia. Her research interests lie in inclusive education at a national and international level, as well as equity, achievement, and wellbeing for students with disability, chronic health conditions and/or accessibility requirements. Her research is currently exploring academic stress in higher education, and how this can be reduced in inclusive and accessible ways through a UDL lens. Elizabeth teaches inclusive education across various universities and is a teacher of research methods at the UQ. Elizabeth is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and member of CAST's National Faculty.

Panel Members

Sarah Humphreys is an Educational Design Manager with the University of Sydney’s Educational Innovation Team. She leads the implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) at the University in response to the University’s strategic plan that outlines a commitment to transformational, student-focused education that embraces equity, diversity and inclusion. Sarah’s background is in teaching, inclusive education and curriculum development. She was first introduced to UDL in 2011 when working as the Project Officer for Diversity with the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) and since then has shared her UDL journey at numerous conferences nationally and internationally, including the UDLHE Digicon hosted by CAST in 2022.

John J Fardoulis BCom (UWS) DipCompProgTech (CDI) MACS Snr CP IP3P (he/him) makes significant contributions to promoting inclusive education and championing the rights of learners and staff with disability at TAFE NSW. As the Lead Universal Design in the Inclusive Design team, John researches and analyses new approaches to universal design and provides recommendations to influence the accessibility, UDL, and usability of the teaching, learning, and assessment products. As an accessibility ambassador across all departments in the NSW government, John helps develop digital accessibility expertise, shares knowledge and works to improve accessibility across all services. John is a member of the UDL in Tertiary Education Community of Practice.

Trina Bianchini is employed at TAFE SA as a Teaching and Learning Specialist with a special portfolio of Accessibility and Inclusive Education. Trina provides leadership to teaching programs through quality and innovation to deliver positive student experiences and successful outcomes. Trina is a passionate advocate of Universal Design for Learning as it drives principles of accessibility, usability and quality learning design addressing digital content and effective facilitation methods utilising digital tools. Trina is a member of a UDL in Tertiary Education Community of Practice with members from across Australia/New Zealand and a lead in the TAFE SA Co-Design Network who was tasked with designing and implementing an Inclusive Teaching and Learning framework at TAFE SA.

The webinar is free to attend, and it will be live-captioned.

Registrations for this webinar are now open

ADCET is hosted by the University of Tasmania

Contact details

Event website
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_g-MumgkkQ6uToWJSOtehyQ

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