What does backward design have to do with UDL? EVERYTHING! UDL is focused on firm goals and flexible means. UbD, or Understanding by Design, also knows as "backward design" is about starting with the goal and designing your lessons around that goal. When we determine the learning goals of the lesson, anticipating the barriers of learning then becomes the next thought. We have to make sure we design clear learning paths for our learners so all have have equal access to the goal. To do this, we must think about what the achievement of the goal looks like. We must have a clear picture of the expectations first to

Check out this article "Understanding by Design Framework".