Universal Design for the Digital Environment: Transforming the Institution.

revolution is about to transform higher education. To participate in this revolution, all of us in higher education need to explore a critical concept: “universal design.” Universal design was originally aimed at innovations in architecture, community spaces, and products, but today it is about creating services and products, from the beginning, in ways that will benefit the widest array of users, including those with disabilities, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.1 It is now time for universal design to make the jump to cyberspace: allowing everyone to engage fully in rich digital experiences is critical not only to a just world but also to a competitive higher education institution. Yet, we still have a long way to go if we are to embrace universal design fully as a core institutional value—and as a primary tool for creating effective electronic services for all members of the campus community. Transforming the Institution