In game development, accessibility is often seen as a layer to add. Universal Design for Learning flips that mindset. It starts with the assumption that learners are diverse – and builds flexibility into every part of the experience. Originally developed for classrooms, UDL has since become a powerful framework for designing anything that teaches. For educational games, that means creating systems where every player can find a way in, stay engaged, and show what they know. Today’s article offers an inspiring tour of the ways the UDL is impacting students today.
Florence Roche Elementary School in Groton, Massachusetts, offers a compelling example of UDL brought to life through physical design. As reported by School Construction News, the 110,000-square-foot school was intentionally designed by Studio G Architects to reflect UDL principles at every level. Learning neighborhoods, child-height storage, flexible project spaces, and outdoor access give students a variety of ways to engage and express understanding. The building mirrors the town’s layout and culture, integrating civic identity with pedagogical intent. Katie Novak, a prominent UDL leader, helped guide the planning process, ensuring the physical environment supported differentiated teaching and student choice from day one.
The San Diego County Office of Education is extending UDL beyond architecture and into day-to-day teaching practice. According to a recent SDCOE announcement, on June 16 and 17, 2025, educators across California will participate in a hands-on UDL Design Jam hosted at the University of San Diego. The event is framed around problem-solving: teachers bring real classroom challenges and collaborate with peers and experts to dismantle barriers and prototype accessible solutions. The experience encourages educators to rethink lesson design by focusing less on student deficits and more on removing obstacles within the system itself. Sign up here.
At this year’s CoSN conference, Nick Williams of Indiana’s Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation shared a model for ensuring educational technology aligns with UDL. As reported by GovTech, his district evaluates all tech tools using a UDL-informed rubric before making procurement decisions. The approach includes device flexibility, built-in accessibility features, and support for multiple learning styles. Their edtech stack includes tools like Screencastify and Book Creator, selected for their compatibility with UDL principles. Williams emphasized that if a system doesn’t serve students with the most barriers, it isn’t worth the investment.
At Colorado State University, Universal Design for Learning is being adopted as a foundation for teaching excellence. The Institute for Learning and Teaching’s (TILT) Summer Conference will focus entirely on inclusive, student-centered strategies rooted in UDL. Keynote speaker Lillian Nave will lead sessions on practical design approaches for neurodivergent learners, alongside workshops exploring grading alternatives, accessibility, and equity. UDL is framed as a proactive framework. It reduces the need for last-minute adjustments and supports educators across face-to-face, hybrid, and online formats
A recent Language Magazine article explores the intersection of UDL and teacher collaboration, especially for multilingual learners with exceptionalities. It highlights that no educator can implement UDL in isolation. Coordinated teaching teams that include general educators, special educators, and language specialists are essential to making UDL work. The article calls for UDL to be treated as a shared design language. It should be a starting point for lesson planning, not an afterthought. The message is clear. UDL thrives in environments where professional expertise is shared and instructional goals are aligned
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Universal Design for Learning isn’t a one-size-fits-all checklist. It is a mindset that prioritizes flexibility, empathy, and intentional design. For educational game developers, it offers a framework to reach more learners, support equity from the ground up, and build experiences that reflect the full spectrum of how humans learn. Developers who embrace UDL are on the forefront of expanding what learning games can be. Contact us if you’re looking to incorporate the Universal Design for Learning framework in your next game project!