Sometimes learning and teaching community radio can involve lots of text heavy reading materials (codes, rules and regulations, processes at the station). For people with reading issues, who have a learning disability or are just out of practice, this can be hard work and presents a barrier to learning that can contribute to non-completion.
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a guide to covering all the elements needed to engage learners of all kinds. UDL sees learning and teaching as comprised of 3 elements: engagement, representation and action. By offering a few different ways for students to access those three elements, UDL makes learning more pleasant and effective for everyone!
UDL is widely used in learning environments where students have differing levels of capacity. It gives students choices about how they receive information so they are able to choose the option most relatable for them. This is particularly helpful for trainers where students may have a learning disability, such as dyslexia, cognitive impairment, or simply have been out of the education system for a long time.
There is lots of evidence to back up the effectiveness of UDL strategies: see evidence here
Read about the guidelines here: http://udlguidelines.cast.org/
Watch/listen to a video about UDL here:
Community Radio Inclusion Support Project (CRISP) 