Thursday, 18 February 2016

"Isn't (Accessibility) Lovely..."

This post is going to be short, but sweet…

It was a Monday night, and the Grammys were on. I typically do not watch these televised events, however, I am glad that I did.

Stevie Wonder, and Pentatonix, presented the award for song of the year. In his speech, Wonder brought inclusion and accessibility to everyone’s attention on a global stage. 

"I just want to say before saying the winner that we need to make every single thing accessible to every single person with a disability.”

When I heard this I stopped – what a powerful way to remind people of such an important issue. His commanding presence offered food for thought, that I hope people watching can begin to process and relate to their own lives. It is somewhat disappointing that it takes a celebrity to bring awareness to these issues, but I am glad when they do so in a genuine way. 

In terms of teaching, this is a prevlent issue, and one that is becoming part of every day dialogue in terms of our students and the accessibility of our schools. And even with something as simple as reading an award show card, there are barriers that exist on a daily basis for individuals.

UDL brings this to the forefront, and demonstrates that it is possible to benefit the whole, when you consider the needs of EVERYONE!



** The video clip starts at :40

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