Call for Abstracts: ADCET UDL Symposium 2026
The Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training (ADCET) is pleased to announce that abstracts are now being accepted for the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Symposium 2026: Navigating Authentic Assessment and Learning in a Digital World.
We invite submissions from academics, teachers, VET educators and practitioners across the Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training sectors.
Event Details
- Date: Wednesday 24 June and Friday 26 June 2026 (TBC)
- Location: University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia (TBC)
- Format: In-person and online attendance options available
Symposium Aims
The UDL Symposium 2026 aims to:
- Share and showcase knowledge and expertise in Universal Design for Learning
- Continue developing an Australia-wide network of UDL practitioners and researchers
- Unpack how UDL co-design can empower learners and improve outcomes
- Explore UDL practices and research which centres student perspectives and experiences
- 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
- Innovative UDL practices in teaching and learning
- Gen AI and Assistive Technology (AT) as enablers of inclusion
- Students as co-designers
- Institution-wide approaches to UDL
- Accessibility 6. Executive functioning
- Authentic representation and addressing bias
- Engagement, joy, and play
- 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
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
- Abstract submissions close: 5 pm Monday 2 March 2026 (AEDT)
Submission Guidelines
Submissions are welcome in either writing or as a recording.
- Indicate your preference for presentation format (in person or online) plus presentation format
- 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
If you have any questions regarding your abstract submissions, please email admin@adcet.edu.au.
