Call for Abstracts: ADCET Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Symposium 2026

From Ideas to Impact - Sharing, Engaging, and Co-Designing Practice

The Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training (ADCET) is pleased to announce that abstracts can now be submitted from across the Higher Education (HE) and Vocational Education and Training (VET) sectors for the upcoming Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Symposium 2026. We invite submissions from academics, teachers, VET educators and practitioners.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday 24 June to Friday 26 June 2026
Location: University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
Format: In-person and online attendance options available

Symposium Aims

The UDL Symposium 2026 aims to:

1. Share and showcase knowledge and expertise in Universal Design for Learning
2. Continue developing an Australia-wide network of UDL practitioners and researchers
3. Unpack how UDL co-design can empower learners and improve outcomes
4. Explore UDL practices and research which centres student perspectives and experiences
5. Explore how UDL can be applied in our current and evolving tertiary education landscape 

Who Should Attend

This conference is designed for academic and professional staff within the tertiary education sector (HE & VET) who have an interest in Universal Design for Learning. Potential presenters and participants may include:

• Educators in Higher Education or Vocational Education and Training
• Learning Designers
• Learning Support Staff
• Disability Advisors
• Accessibility Advisors
• Assistive Technology Officers
• Inclusive Education Students
• Staff and students with disability in tertiary education

Call for Abstracts

We welcome abstracts that address Universal Design for Learning (UDL) applications within Higher Education (HE) and Vocational Education and Training (VET) contexts. In line with the UDL guidelines 3.0, we encourage abstracts to reflect on how your presentation will link to the broad themes listed below and support learner agency. Abstracts should highlight how your presentation will benefit conference participants and how you will engage with both in-person and online attendees.

Broad themes:

1. Innovative UDL practices in teaching and learning
2. Gen AI and Assistive Technology (AT) as enablers of inclusion
3. Students as co-designers
4. Institutional-wide approaches to UDL
5. Accessibility
6. Executive functioning
7. Authentic representation and addressing bias
8. Engagement, joy, and play
9. UDL beyond the classroom

Abstract Requirements

Ensure that your abstract addresses the following:

• Targets HE or VET
• Clearly addresses one or more of the themes
• Clearly aligns to UDL 3.0 guidelines
• Includes evidence of the impact on the student experience (where possible)
• Articulates a clear, achievable goal for the session
• Explains how your session will engage both online and in-person participants

Download the Abstract Rubric

Submission Types

• Presentation (25 minutes)
  Presentations can be delivered in-person or online. The presentation format offers a focused talk of 15-20 minutes followed by 5-10 minutes of Q&A with both the in-person and online audience. Presentations will be delivered in hybrid mode.

• Workshop (60 minutes)
  We are asking for all workshops to be delivered in-person to maximise opportunities for audience interaction. Please plan for at least 30 minutes to include generative conversation, activities and group collaboration. We ask that you consider how your workshop could be adapted to effectively include online participants, noting that while there may be some limitations to their engagement, ADCET can support you to make the session as interactive as possible for the online audience.

• Gallery Presentation
  A gallery presentation is a visual summary of your UDL journey. This presentation can take multiple formats such as a standard poster, physical artifacts, interactive tablets, or a looping video presentation (5-minute maximum with closed captions). It is preferable for presenters to be in-person during the designated session so that you can interact with the participants. However, we will also accept a short video submission that can be played during this time, as well as being made available for viewing by online participants.

Presenter Attendance

• Online
• In-person

Important Dates

• Call for abstracts close: 5 pm Monday 2 March 2026

Submission Guidelines

Submissions are welcome in either writing or as a recording.

• Indicate whether you will be presenting in person or online
• Indicate your presentation format – Presentation, Workshop or Gallery
• Presentation Title and Brief Description
• Presentation Theme
• Abstract (300 words or less) or a video/audio recording to be uploaded to YouTube, Vimeo or a Shared Folder, maximum 2 minutes (transcript required)
• Contact Information
• Additional Presenters (if applicable) and contact details
• Level of UDL expertise required by the participants
• Specific technical support
• Accessibility adjustments

Join us in Hobart to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on Universal Design for Learning and help shape the future of inclusive education in Australia's tertiary sector.

If you have any questions regarding your abstract submission please email admin@adcet.edu.au.

Submit an abstract for the ADCET 2026 UDL Symposium

Supported by:

ADCET is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education