CAST

AT A GLANCE

Headquarters
Wakefield, Massachusetts

Social Entrepreneur
Linda Gerstle, CEO

Year Founded
1984

Mission:

CAST is a nonprofit education organization that designs innovative ways to expand learning opportunities for people of all ages. CAST created the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework for the design and implementation of inclusive educational and professional practices and technologies. CAST provides a research-based framework that guides educators and product developers in addressing the variability across the learning spectrum through the design of rich instructional supports that reduce barriers to learning.

Vision:

CAST is a multifaceted organization with a singular ambition: Bust the barriers to learning that millions of people experience every day.

Approach:

CAST provides a research-based framework that guides educators and product developers in addressing the variability across the learning spectrum through the design of rich instructional supports that reduce barriers to learning. CAST has developed a wide range of assistive technology – tools and products – that have made it possible for learners in the margins – including those with disabilities – to have access to the richest array of learning opportunities. What distinguishes CAST’s support is that it focuses attention less on the perceived weaknesses of learners-and more on the obstacles that such learners face in traditional methods, materials, and environments.

No less significant has been CAST’s advocacy for supportive policies at the state and federal levels. The list is long and includes the National UDL Taskforce which led to UDL definition and references in the higher education opportunity act of 2008, UDL language in the Department of Labor’s 2 billion dollar TAACT program, and most recently the UDL language in the current ESSA legislation. The key factor is that almost every engagement CAST has had on the policy front has resulted in statutory or regulatory changes.

Impact:

CAST advocates for supportive policies at the state and federal levels, such as the National UDL Taskforce, which led to UDL definition and references in the higher education opportunity act of 2008, UDL language in the Department of Labor’s 2 billion dollar TAACT program, and most recently the UDL language in the current ESSA legislation.

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