About the UDL Center

Founded in 2009, the National UDL Center supports the effective implementation of UDL by connecting stakeholders in the field and providing resources and information about:

The UDL Center is a program of CAST and made possible by the generous support of the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation.

Advisory Council

The National Center on UDL has an esteemed Advisory Council that includes the following members:

Policy

Tom Hehir is Professor of Practice at Harvard University, Graduate School of Education. He served as Director of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs from 1993 to 1999. As Director, he was responsible for federal leadership in implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Instruction and Assessment

Emiliano Ayala is Associate Professor, Department of Educational Leadership and Special Education at Sonoma State University in California. He leads two federally funded projects that promote UDL approaches in the Cal State system.

Markay Winston is Director of Student Services for the Cincinnati Public Schools and is leading a model UDL implementation in two schools.

Research

Bridget Dalton is Assistant Professor Learning, Literacy and Culture at Vanderbilt University. A key figure in the development of UDL research, Dalton brings expertise in literacy and technology, struggling readers, and adolescent literacy. She is a co-author of the award winning software Thinking Reader based on UDL principles.

Don Deshler is the Director of the Center for Research on Learning, University of Kansas where he is also Professor of Special Education. His research interests include special education, scalability, and bringing research into practice. He is also Co-Director of the National Technical Assistance and Dissemination Center on Response to Intervention (RTI).

Dave Edyburn is a professor in the Department of Exceptional Education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with research focused on investigating the use of technology to enhance teaching, learning and performance. He is a leading national advocate for UDL practices.

Parents & Community

Rich Robison is the Executive Director of the Boston-based Federation of Children with Special Needs and the parent of three children.

Ricki Sabia is Chair of the National UDL Task Force in Washington, DC, a consortium 39 organizations working to improve education policy and practice through UDL. She is also Associate Director of the National Down Syndrome Society Policy Center and the parent of two children.

Curriculum & Products

Mark Schneiderman is Director of Federal Education Policy for the Software and Information Industry Association, the principal trade association of more than 500 high-tech companies.