Does implementing a universal design reduce the academic rigor required of students to compose multimodally?
No. Implementing the principles of universal design to make multimodal assignments accessible does not reduce the academic rigor. According to The Ohio State University’s Universal Design Fact Sheet, “Universal Design does not remove academic challenges; it removes barriers to access.” Put differently, Universal Design supports students by giving them access to the resources necessary to independently achieve success and meet learning outcomes. Universal Design still requires students to act creatively, think critically, and problem solve.
References
“Universal Design Fact Sheet.” The Ohio State University Grant Improving the Quality of Education for Students with Disabilities. https://ada.osu.edu/resources/fastfacts/Universal-Design-FF.pdf. Accessed 3 May 2018.