In the last two decades, there has been a global movement towards pedagogies that create more inclusive school environments in order to meet the needs of diverse learners. One such approach is Universal Design for Learning (UDL), which foregrounds the design of flexible and accessible learning experiences for all, regardless of learner characteristics. Technology is a key enabler in this. To date, much of the research on UDL has focused on its impact in higher education, with less evidence available on the use of UDL within second‐level education. This systematic literature review of n = 15 empirical studies selected from a wide‐ranging search that returned an initial result of n = 1253 explores how the affordances of digital technology have been harnessed for UDL enactment at second level. The findings show that, to date, empirical research at second level has focused mostly on the easy wins within the UDL principle of Representation, where educators offer choice about how learners access content. However, there is a clear gap in UDL research on the use of technologies to support the Engagement and Action & Expression principles of UDL, supporting student self‐regulation and self‐assessment, and on technology‐mediated communication and collaboration. The paper highlights the potential for future cross‐pollination of research in educational technology with UDL. Practitioner Notes: What is already known about this topic: Universal Design for Learning has been extensively researched in higher education and special education contexts but much less so at K‐12, in particular at second level. Technology offers many affordances that can provide choice and variation in the learning process, which can be harnessed in a UDL approach. The transformative potential of technology in educational contexts was not fully realised pre‐COVID. The COVID pandemic saw an acceleration in technology adoption for learning, but it remains to be seen whether technology is being deployed to complement or transform existing practices. What this paper adds: This paper clearly identifies which affordances of technology are commonly deployed in UDL implementations, particularly noting the provision of choice through multi‐media options for Representation and expression. There is a clear gap in UDL research on the use of technologies to support self‐regulation and self‐assessment, (eg, peer, teacher and automated feedback tools) and on technology‐mediated communication and collaboration. The UDL literature does not address the potential negative impacts of technology within the learning context or the short‐lived nature of positive impacts (novelty effect). Implications for practice and/or policy: While technology affords great opportunities for choice and Engagement, the design of the learning experience must take priority, availing of technology as needed. There are great opportunities for cross‐pollination of research at the forefront of educational technology and universal design to address any gaps in technology use in UDL implementations.

This article analyses the perspectives of faculty members on disability in higher education. Their testimonies give value to the attitudes and qualities of university students with disabilities and show how they influence their professional and personal development. We carried out a qualitative study, through interviews with 119 faculty members of different fields from 10 Spanish universities, who were nominated by students with disabilities for developing inclusive pedagogy. We conducted a progressive analysis of the data using a system of categories and codes. The results describe the motivations that drove the participants to respond to the needs of students with disabilities, the personal and professional impact posed by the challenge of adjusting the teaching and learning processes, and the perceptions of the faculty members toward the contributions of these students to the university. In the conclusions section, we delve into the need of universities to embrace inclusivity. The data provided by this study reveal that disability can be a valuable asset in a university context that dissociates from the deficit lens and acknowledges that all students are important and able to learn when the attitudes and conditions are appropriate.

Higher education institutions in Spain are required, by law, to make anticipatory reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities. This work explores the contributions of 119 faculty members for the inclusion of students with disabilities. Specifically, the aim was to know their beliefs and knowledge about reasonable adjustments, which types of adjustment they carried out, what implications that affect faculty members were associated with making such adjustments, and what support they had to apply them. A progressive data analysis was performed using a system of categories and codes. The results show that the faculty members made different types of reasonable adjustments in the classrooms, and that they had a favourable attitude toward this. However, there was a lack of knowledge about the needs of the students, as well as doubts of the faculty members based on such lack of knowledge.

This paper comprises a review of studies that employ students as researchers/co-researchers approaches from 2000 to 2018, with a focus on school improvement and inclusion. The study is original since it focuses exclusively on the idea of students taking the role of researchers/co-researchers, instead of focusing on the broader notion of student voice that other reviews have explored previously. The results highlight the different school improvement areas that are explored and the various stages that have been followed in the studies in order to involve students. Through this analysis, we focus our discussion on issues that need to be considered when using such approaches. Overall, we argue that despite the inherent challenges that such approaches entail, students as researchers/co-researchers can be a powerful way for improving schools and promoting inclusion.

The aim of this study is to define the barriers that university students have in the classroom, mainly referring to: spaces and resources, contents, methodology and participation. Therefore, we have taken as our starting point the proposal of the Universal Instruction Design (UID), developed at the University of Guelph (Canada) and adapted in Spain by Dalmau et al., (2015). Participants were 652 students belonging to three Teacher Training and Education Faculties participated in the study: two from Spain (Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid) and one from the USA (Northern University Arizona). The data has been collected through a questionnaire designed ad hoc by the research team in the areas indicated. The results show the main barriers that students experience in the classroom. The discussion focuses on the need to introduce strategies in the professional development of university teacher training in order to design the content they teach in accordance with the principles of universal design for teaching.

Las universidades son espacios a los que determinados estudiantes no acceden o en los que encuentran destacados obstáculos para permanecer. Avanzar hacia la construcción de universidades donde todos puedan aprender y participar es una tarea inaplazable que muchas instituciones desconocen cómo enfrentar. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo diseñar un sistema de indicadores que facilite a las instituciones universitarias la autoevaluación de las condiciones que ofrecen a sus estudiantes con respecto a la inclusión. Con una metodología basada en la revisión bibliográfica y la validación de indicadores por 18 expertos/as mediante el método Delphi, se presentan un total de 30 indicadores agrupados en seis dimensiones claves. Estas dimensiones hacen referencia a la cultura institucional, acceso equitativo, aprendizaje centrado en el alumnado, bienestar y participación, movilidad y empleabilidad y logro académico. Para facilitar el uso del instrumento, se acompaña cada indicador de una breve descripción, una medida o escala de evaluación, la periodicidad con la que conviene ser medido y el posible nivel de desagregación. Como conclusión, se reconoce la adecuación del método Delphi para la validación de indicadores y se destaca la contribución de los instrumentos de evaluación como herramientas que permiten evidenciar las situaciones de desigualdad universitaria. Se subraya la urgencia de revertir el modelo universitario hacia un modelo enfocado en el diseño de estrategias que permitan avanzar hacia la verdadera inclusión.