An Interview with UDL Award Recipient Sean Smith
What does it take to advance Universal Design for Learning (UDL) while ensuring research leads to meaningful change in classrooms? In this episode, our host Bryan Dean sits down with Dr. Sean Joseph Smith, recipient of the 2026 David Rose UDL Research Award and Professor in the Department of Special Education at University of Kansas, to reflect on more than two decades of leadership, innovation, and impact in the UDL field.
Sean shares key moments from his professional journey, discusses how projects like WRITE, WritingClassroom.org, and VOISS connect research to classroom practice, and explores the opportunities and challenges AI presents for learners with disabilities and learner variability. He also looks ahead to the future of UDL, offers advice for emerging leaders, and reflects on what receiving the David Rose UDL Research Award means to him.
Whether you’re an educator, researcher, instructional designer, or accessibility advocate, this conversation offers valuable insights into the future of inclusive teaching and learning.
Hosts:
Bryan Dean
Guest:
Dr. Sean Joseph Smith, UDL Award Recipient and Professor, Department of Special Education, University of Kansas
Podcast Episode Resources
The Learning Experience Podcast
Join hosts Kelli Suding, Luis Pérez, and Bryan Dean as they bring you inspiring conversations and real-world examples of breaking down barriers to learning. Each episode of The Learning Experience brings you inspiring conversations with educators, students, families, and inclusive education leaders who share practical tips, proven strategies, and real-world examples of how to break down barriers and create equitable learning experiences for everyone.