Guest Contributor Larry McNutt
Why EdTech teachers need to be at UD26
Here’s something I’ve noticed: if you’re a teacher using EdTech in creative ways, you’re probably already practicing Universal Design without calling it that.
You know that moment when you set up an assignment to accept video submissions because one of your students struggles with writing? And then half the class chooses video anyway, and their work is suddenly more creative and engaged? That’s Universal Design in action.
Or when you add captions to your instructional videos for a student who’s hard of hearing, and suddenly your ESL students are using them too, and even your native speakers tell you the captions help them focus? Again, that’s UD.
The principle is beautifully simple: when you design for the students at the margins, you end up improving things for everyone. It’s not about lowering standards or ‘dumbing down’—it’s about recognizing that there’s no such thing as an ‘average’ learner and building flexibility into how we teach.
Why This Matters for EdTech Teachers
Here’s where it gets exciting: technology is the most powerful tool we have for making Universal Design actually work in real classrooms. Think about what you can do now that was impossible ten years ago:
- • Text-to-speech that sounds natural, not robotic
• AI tools that can scaffold writing without doing it for students
• Digital platforms where students can choose how to demonstrate their learning
• Simulations and interactive content that make abstract concepts concrete
• Real-time translation for multilingual classrooms
But here’s the thing: having the technology isn’t enough. I’ve seen brilliant tools used in ways that actually create more barriers. The question isn’t “Are you using EdTech?” but “Are you using it in ways that genuinely open up learning for all your students?”
Why I’m Telling You About UD26
I’m telling you about the Universal Design Conference (UD26, University of Galway, 4-6 November) because after years of trying to figure this stuff out in isolation, I’ve learned that the real breakthroughs happen when practitioners share what’s actually working in their classrooms.
This conference has a dedicated Education stream, and they’re specifically looking for contributions from practitioners who are using technology to make learning more accessible, more engaging, more equitable.
What Could You Possibly Share?
Maybe you’re thinking – “I don’t have anything conference-worthy?”
But maybe you have :
- • Redesigned an assessment to give students more choice in how they show what they know?
• Found a creative way to use AI that supports neurodivergent learners without doing their thinking for them?
• Built a digital resource library that’s actually usable by all your students?
• Discovered that a tool you were using for accessibility had unexpected benefits for other students?
• Figured out how to make synchronous online learning work for students across different time zones, abilities, and tech access levels?
• Created a curriculum that’s culturally responsive AND digitally accessible?
If you answered yes to any of these, you have something worth sharing. Someone else is struggling with exactly that problem right now.
We need to share what works, critique what doesn’t, and build collective knowledge about how to use these tools well.
The important dates:
Abstract deadline: 8 April 26 (yes, that’s soon)
Conference dates: 4-6 November 2026
Location: University of Galway, Ireland (worth the trip!)
What you can submit: Full papers, shorter posters, case studies, innovative practice examples
More details at: https://ud26.ie/information-for-authors/call-for-contributions/
I know you’re busy but think about the last time you learned something genuinely useful from another practitioner— from someone in the classroom dealing with the same challenges you face.
That’s what this conference can be. And your story? Your small innovation that you think isn’t a big deal? That might be exactly what another teacher needs to hear.
We keep saying we want education to be equitable and inclusive. Universal Design gives us a framework to actually do it. EdTech gives us the tools. But we need to talk to each other about how to make it real.
Hope to see you in Galway!
P.S. If you’re still not convinced that your work matters, remember what Saint Bridget said 1,600 years ago: “Difference is the condition of everyone.” You’re not accommodating outliers—you’re designing for reality.