“The educator's responsibility is to teach students effectively and provide appropriate accommodations. The student's responsibility is to capitalize on his or her own capabilities. using accommodations to maximize the learning experience.” (Miner, 2001)

These are both responsibilities that need to be considered and implemented.  To help not only students with disabilities, but 

“the more differentiated use of media for instruction reveals that individuals who are defined as "learning disabled" within print-based learning environments are not the same individuals who are defined as "learning disabled" within video- or audio-based learning environments.”(Rose, 2000)

Keeping in mind that different disabilities need different assistive technology.  What if these UDL designs actually made life better for all students.

“Preliminary research findings suggest that students with disabilities, indeed all students, may perform significantly better on tests applying universal design principles than on traditionally designed tests (Johnstone, 2003)” (Dolan, 2005)

What would we lose if AT and it's use in UDL isn't utilized?  Well we can start with 17 elements on the periodic table below. 

 Just image what all the things we would miss out on including this project.  I'm visually impaired and text to speech is the biggest reason I'm able to continue my education.  

“a text-to-speech read-aloud provides students with consistent readings free of potentially directive or misleading intonation” (Dolan, 2005)

This happens more than we would like to admit before text to speech and UDL were more common I was an undergrad who was unsuccessful with a disability hired reader who I had to set time with and work within their schedule.  With text to speech that's  not a problem anymore I can take the work with me and still be successful.  This wouldn't be possible without this latest trend.  

“There is a trend toward investigating and incorporating the Internet as the testing medium for statewide assessments. Computer-based testing is viewed by many policymakers as a way to meet the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB).”(Thompson, 2003)

With 508 being updated to include a provider based UDL utilizing AT.   

“It is important to notice a transfer of duty towards providers in general with regard to Web content, with a possible aim to free the users of the need to buy different software and equipment since AST is often reactive in design and advances very fast, making a priori implementations more functional and necessary.”(Patiniotaki, 2016)