Universal Design for Learning in Physical Education
Authors: Lieberman Lauren J. , Grenier Michelle , Brian Ali , Arndt Katrina 
Published: March 2024

The practice of universal design―of making a product or environment accessible to all individuals―has been around for a long time. But, until now, that practice has never been explored in depth in the field of physical education.

This groundbreaking text provides a much-needed link between universal design and physical education, extending boundaries as it offers physical educators a systematic guide to create, administer, manage, assess, and apply universal design for learning (UDL).

Universal Design for Learning in Physical Education is for all physical educators―those who are or are preparing to become general PE teachers as well as those who are in the field of adapted physical education. This resource offers the following:
Ready-to-use curricular units for grades K-12, with 31 universally designed lessons that demonstrate how teachers can apply UDL in specific content areas (teachers can also use those examples to build their own units and lessons)Rubrics for the 28 items on the Lieberman–Brian Inclusion Rating Scale for Physical Education (LIRSPE) to help teachers follow best practices in inclusionTables, timelines, and paraeducator training checklists to ensure that UDL is effectively delivered from the beginning of the school year

Universal Design for Learning in Physical Education approaches inclusion from the macro level, providing a comprehensive conceptual model of UDL and how to incorporate it into curriculum planning and teaching methods for K-12 physical education.

Outcomes for Universal Design for Learning in Physical Education are aligned with SHAPE America’s physical education standards and grade-level outcomes. Given that 94 percent of students with disabilities are taught in physical education settings, this text offers highly valuable guidance to general physical educators in providing equal access to, and engagement in, high-quality physical education for all students.

Part I of Universal Design for Learning in Physical Education defines universal design and explains how it relates to physical education. It identifies barriers that teachers may face in adapting UDL to their programs and how to overcome these barriers. It also addresses critical assessment issues and guides teachers in supporting students with severe or multiple disabilities.

Part I also covers advocacy issues such as how to teach students to speak up for their own needs and choices. Readers will gain insight into where their programs excel and where barriers might still exist when they employ the Lieberman–Brian Inclusion Rating Scale, a self-assessment tool that helps measure physical, programmatical, and social inclusion.

Finally, part I reinforces several UDL principles by sharing many examples of how physical educators have applied UDL in their programs.

Part II offers a trove of universally designed units and lesson plans for use across grades K-12, with separate chapters on lessons for elementary, sports, fitness, recreation, and aquatics.

Universal Design for Learning in Physical Education is the first text to delve deeply into the concept of universal design in physical education. As such, it is a valuable resource for all PE teachers—both those leading general classes and adapted classes—to learn how to successfully implement universally designed units and lesson plans that enrich all their students’ lives. The accompanying web resource provides 40 forms, tables, checklists, and a sample lesson plan from the book, as well as a list of websites, books, and laws. These resources are provided as reproducible PDFs for practical use.