Newby, Wendy L. "Voices from the Classroom." PMLA 120.2 (2005): 598-602. JSTOR. Web. 04 Apr. 2014.

Newbys article discusses students with disabilities, how broad a field it is, and how higher
education can alter how teachers instruct their students in order to gain access and accommodations to
all of its students with special needs. The author begins the article by introducing her own role in the
education system as a psychologist with a focus on special needs and currently (at the time of the
article) in administration. She states that her view of learning is from both the teacher and the learner,
and the unique challenges that disability brings to higher education.
Newby focuses on the fact that accommodations for those with disabilities is broad, just as
disabilities themselves are broad in range after giving a brief statistical history of student with
disabilities in the realm of higher education since the 1980s. Newby then proceeds to give examples of
students needs and how they are not being accommodated, then explains the concept of UD (Universal
Design), which has helped non-disabled as well as the disabled; some examples are door buttons that
open the doors inward and ramps that allow for strollers. The author then applies this concept to
educational instruction and gives examples of how it works in university classrooms.
Newby is clear in her approach to better accommodating students with disabilities in the
university setting. Her organization follows a neat structure of case statements and examples and
follows up with solutions. Newby has cited her sources correctly in MLA format, and the sources listed
provide a means of further research into the area of Universal Design Instruction and on other ways of
post secondary education accommodating students with disabilities.
I agreed with everything the author wrote in this article. As I read it, I continuously thought that
the way I want to teach my future students is using this method of Universal Design. This article did not
clash with any of my ideas, nor did it question any of my opinions or interpretations. This article has
given me great insight into how education should be for all students with disabilities and not just
accommodating the few who ask for it. Newby did indeed account for individuals who do not have

disabilities. This was explained through the concept of Universal Design in general, which brings to light
the fact that everyone becomes disabled and needs access to everything (e.g. carrying a heavy load
and needing to open a door without the use of hands). This source relates to my other sources as it
provides an explicit view of education accommodation for students with disabilities. Other sources
indicated the need for change concerning students with disabilities in the public education system, but
this article gives a solution to the problem of accommodating all students with disabilities needs as
well as student needs in general as a result of inclusion in the schools.
This article has biographical material that is very useful; the information sources provide a more
in-depth look at Universal Design for Instruction (UDI). I will be using this article as a source for my thesis
because it relates to the education thread via suggesting that classrooms should incorporate this so that
all student needs can be met. I plan to use this model as a future teacher in my own classroom, but I
also plan to use it in my thesis as to how education in general should be, but also for how education of
those with disabilities should be.