ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses universal access as a way to foster inclusion and diversity in the South African education system using universal design (UD) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) paradigms. The fragmented historical past and the need to transform and create a socially just South African society are reflected upon. Education is proposed as a way to be inclusive of the diversity in people to encourage universal access. Inclusive education is legislated, and more recently, UD has emerged in South African education policies as a means to address inclusion. An extension of UD in the educational context is UDL, as proposed in the chapter. In this way, curricula can be designed in a way that is inclusive of the diversity of people. UD and its extension UDL will be discussed as ways of fostering inclusion, given policy trends in South Africa (SA).
