UDL Certification Process

Certification Earned through Digital Promise

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What is UDL Certification?

• UDL Product Certification documents important components for edtech product developers interested in building and demonstrating their competence and commitment to UDL within their products.
• Certification issued by CAST, Inc.
• Applicants who meet certification criteria earn an Open Badge to share that the product has been certified.
• Each product application costs $2000.

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EdTech Products with UDL Product Certification�(as of October 2024)

1. Newsela: an instructional content platform that provides high-interest, real-world content at multiple reading levels to help students in grades 2–12 improve their reading comprehension, vocabulary, and motivation.
2. Seesaw: A leading learning experience platform developed specifically for PreK-6 students. Seesaw combines instructional tools, standards-aligned lessons, student portfolios, and inclusive communication features that bring learning to life for students, teachers, and families worldwide.

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Overview of Criteria for UDL Certification

Product Design…

• Is centered around Universal Design for Learning

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• Prioritizes and meets the defined accessibility baseline requirements

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• Is clearly aligned to the UDL framework and guidelines

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UDL Certification Process Part 1: �Comprehensive Responses to Product Overview Prompts

• What is the product’s Universal Learning Technology ID (ULTID)?
• Edtech product name
• URL of product’s website
• Specific product version being assessed and its release date
• Operating system(s) and/or platform(s) required for compatibility
• Approximate number of users the product serves
• What general company (not individual person’s) email can we use to communicate certification status? The open badge earned is associated with the email address and non-transferrable, so we must have long-term access to it.

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UDL Certification Process Part 1: Comprehensive Responses to Product Overview Prompts (continued)

• Who was involved in completing this application? Include names, roles, and email addresses of all members directly involved in making product design decisions.
• Who is the intended audience for the product?
• Which subject areas of topics does the product focus on?
• What learning or challenge does the product intend to address?
• How is the target audience intended to use the product? How, and to what end, do they engage with it?

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UDL Certification Process Part 2: �Work Examples/Artifacts

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1. Accessibility Baseline criteria include:

- Public Accessibility Statement specific to product that is easy for customers to find and includes an email address with a corresponding qualified respondent.

- User-informed Accessibility Design

• Provide evidence of responding to target user input with regard to accessibility design decisions.

- Current ACR that includes:

• All WCAG v2.x criteria marked as “Not Applicable” have complete explanations of why that designation is appropriate
• All WCAG v2.x criteria marked as “Partially Supports” have complete explanations as well as a statement for plans and a timeline for when the product team intends to bring it into full conformance.
• Full detailing of “Evaluation Methods Used”, including evidence of manual testing in addition to automated testing for conformance.
• ACR is publicly available and easy for customers to find.
• Clear documentation of who can answer customer questions and provide clarifications on the product.

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UDL Certification Process Part 2: �Work Examples/Artifacts (continued)

2. Alignment to UDL Framework and Guidelines
• Illustrate product’s alignment of each of the nine UDL Guidelines (unless goal of product negates certain guidelines) and a clear demonstration of the applicant’s strong understanding of the UDL Guidelines.
• General product overview describing purpose of product, known barriers to use of product, how product promotes high expectations for all, and how product has features that are “essential for some, but good and available for all.”
• Specific UDL Guideline Review that describes how “UDL thinking” was embedded in the design process, with highlighted design elements that best represent the product’s alignment to UDL.

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UDL Certification Process Part 3: �Reflection

• How did applying for this certification influence conversations around accessibility within the product team and/or company?
• To what extent did the application process increase awareness or application of UDL Framework and Guidelines within product team and/or company?

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Leveled Certifications

1. Level 1: UDL Informed Design
1. Meet all Accessibility Baseline criteria
2. Qualified explanations for General Product Overview within Alignment to UDL Framework and Guidelines section
3. Meet alignment qualifications for all nine UDL Guidelines (unless some qualify as “Not Applicable” for product)
2. Level 2: UDL Design Verified
• Meet all Level 1 requirements
• Provide independent verification of alignment for all nine UDL Guidelines from at least one implementation site (“customer”)
3. Level 3: UDL Design Scaled
• Meet all Level 1 requirements
• Provide independent verification of alignment for all nine UDL Guidelines from five implementation sites (”customers”).

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