Imagine stepping into a lecture hall built for today’s students. A discreet camera captures and streams the class, so you and service providers can connect remotely. Captions appear automatically on a screen or sync seamlessly with your own device, no need to request them. Everyone has access to professional, structured notes, not just a select few. No scrambling to take everything down. No one left out.
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This is what happens when accessibility isn’t an add-on, but the foundation. It’s the vision behind Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and it’s the future we’re building toward.
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Accessibility as an Afterthought

Many institutions want to do better when it comes to accessibility, however the systems and solutions are often fragmented, retrofitted and incomplete.

Students may have access to accommodations, but those supports are frequently dependent on paperwork, wait times, or individual devices. Lectures may be recorded, but the sound is unreliable or stored, never to be used again. Captions exist, but only if someone requests them. Peers are often relied upon to take notes, but this can lack consistency and continuity.
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A Better Blueprint

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework developed to ensure learning environments are intentionally designed to support a wide range of learners, not just those who are neurotypical, able-bodied, or fully fluent in the language of instruction.

Rather than retrofitting solutions, UDL encourages proactive design that removes barriers before they appear. This means offering multiple ways to engage with material, express understanding, and stay organised. It’s a mindset that values flexibility, clarity, and consistency.
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Bridging the Physical and Digital Gap

For over a decade, we’ve worked to develop tools that make learning more accessible, from human notetaking delivered via best in class tech, to live captions and AI transcription. But even the best tools can't thrive on shaky systems ands infrastructure.

That’s why we’ve returned to a long-standing internal initiative: building a physical tech device designed specifically for the classroom. One that supports seamless, high-quality recording. One that processes information locally for maximum privacy. One that works in sync with the digital tools students already rely on.

We're building The UDL Classroom*, and it’s not just a camera, it’s a bridge between the physical classroom and the digital world. A step toward classrooms that are designed, not retrofitted, for inclusion.
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Why Now?

Since 2021 campuses increasingly adopt hybrid and flexible learning models, the need for smart, scalable, and secure accessibility infrastructure is growing. At the same time, institutions are under more pressure than ever to meet students’ diverse needs, protect privacy, and support digital equity.

“In recent years, institutions across Canada have seen a dramatic increase in students self-reporting disabilities. At universities, there have been two major spikes: one in 2016, when the rate jumped from 9% to 22%, and again in 2022, when it rose from 24% to 31%. Similar patterns have been reported at colleges across the country’ — Canadian University Survey Consortium, 2022‍

UDL isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s the foundation of a modern learning experience for the modern learner. Launch is our way of putting this belief into action.
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What’s Next

In our next post, Redesigning Learning for Everyone: The Story Behind the UDL Classroom, our CEO Daniel Goerz shares the story that sparked the UDL Classroom project, and the deeper mission driving our work. It’s a personal look at the challenges, conversations, and inspiration that shaped our vision for a more inclusive classroom.

^{*Our UDL classroom technology has patents granted and pending in several jurisdictions.}