ABSTRACT:
The principles of Inclusive Education point to the need to address the barriers present in different educational contexts in order to guarantee access to all students within education systems, as well as guarantee their continuous attendance. In this context, this paper aims to characterise the scientific production regarding the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and to systematise some of the contributions aimed at the elimination of methodological barriers within learning contexts. For that, an integrative review of the literature regarding the UDL was conducted. The information obtained was analysed in the light of the Disability Studies in Education (DSE) and the social model of disability. The categories that emerged in the data collection, which structure the discussion, were: a) historical and legal contributions; b) conceptual and critical contributions about disability; c) contributions of practical applicability. The results show the concentration of studies on the UDL in North America and the inexpressiveness of research in Brazil. In addition, they demark the differentiation between the principles and guidelines of the UDL and the other perspectives of the Universal Design (UD); they point out strategies aimed at eliminating barriers in access to knowledge and briefly map the field of investigation regarding the UDL and the gaps that require further investment. Finally, the study shows that UDL, as it contemplates the diversity of ways of learning, has the potential to promote inclusive educational processes.
KEYWORDS:
Universal Design for Learning; Accessibility; Disability Social Model; Distance Education; Special Education