Ask LUDIAAccessibility Starting Point Guide
Designing Classrooms and Learning Spaces
These starting points help you arrange furniture, manage sensory input, and set up classrooms and learning spaces that work for every learner who uses them.
Download this guide as a PDF: Designing Classrooms and Learning Spaces (2 pages, 131 KB)
Pathway 3 · Accessibility for Learning Communities
The Physical Classroom Environment: Creating Universal Learning Spaces
National Council for Special Education, Ireland. Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab).
A practical guide to designing learning spaces for all learners: visual stimuli, acoustics, lighting, furniture layout, and transitions between activities.
Open the resource: The Physical Classroom Environment: Creating Universal Learning Spaces (opens in a new tab)See it in pathway 3: The Physical Classroom Environment: Creating Universal Learning Spaces
Pathway 3 · Accessibility for Learning Communities
Classroom Sensory Screening Tool
National Council for Special Education, Ireland. Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab).
A checklist for evaluating a room and finding improvements, including keeping 20 to 50 percent of wall space clear, plus lighting, acoustics, and furniture.
Open the resource: Classroom Sensory Screening Tool (opens in a new tab)See it in pathway 3: Classroom Sensory Screening Tool
Pathway 4 · Critical Frameworks and Curriculum Resources
Co-designing with Children with Disabilities
Weavly, Inclusive Design Research Centre
A practical guide to involving disabled children as co-creators, so the learners who use the space help shape it.
Open the resource: Co-designing with Children with Disabilities (opens in a new tab)See it in pathway 4: Co-designing with Children with Disabilities
Pathway 6 · No-Cost Digital Resources
myNoise: Ambient Sounds for Focus and Sensory Regulation
No-cost ambient sound tool
Adjustable ambient soundscapes that let learners shape the sound environment that helps them focus, rest, or regulate.
Open the resource: myNoise: Ambient Sounds for Focus and Sensory Regulation (opens in a new tab)See it in pathway 6: myNoise: Ambient Sounds for Focus and Sensory Regulation
Pathway 6 · No-Cost Digital Resources
DO-IT: Universal Design of Physical Spaces Checklist
No-cost checklist, DO-IT, University of Washington
A checklist for finding and reducing barriers in entrances, routes, rooms, furniture, signs, technology, and safety. It is a plain web page, with no downloads. Some items refer to US law, so adapt them to your own context.
Open the resource: DO-IT: Universal Design of Physical Spaces Checklist (opens in a new tab)See it in pathway 6: DO-IT: Universal Design of Physical Spaces Checklist