A person sitting in a chair and another person in a wheelchair both reading from a large display of the ADAPT website. The table beneath the display is covered with a banner for the Rhonda Weiss Center for Accessible IDEA Data.

Accessible experiences involve empathizing with the varying needs of all users, not just checking boxes to meet standards.

Rhonda Weiss Center

The Rhonda Weiss Center for Accessible IDEA Data assists states in meeting their data demands. Our technical support promotes dynamic, accessible data formats. This results in improved educational outcomes for the communities we serve.

Three people talking in an office. One person is holding a red and white cane, and another is using a wheelchair.

Commitment

At the heart of the Weiss Center, our focus is to enhance the lives and experiences of individuals with disabilities. We embrace a set of core principles that guide our work and shape our approach. These principles reflect our commitment to making a meaningful impact and driving positive change in the world.

We reinforce “accessibility from the start.” This enhances the impact and meaningfulness of the services we offer.

We prioritize developing State capacity. This ensures the sustainability of states’ efforts.

We energize the field by improving data processes. Our use of innovative technology makes data available in dynamic, accessible formats.

We strive to increase the effectiveness of service delivery. Summative evaluation and ad hoc input from end users inform our work from start to finish.

A wheelchair user wearing headphones and listening to website content with assistive technology. They are reading along with the content on their computer monitor.

The Need

Data accessibility is often an afterthought. This may be due to data demands on states, competing priorities, or personnel turnover. As a result, individuals with disabilities are without access to the data necessary to make informed decisions.

A person in a wheelchair collaborating with several others who are all sitting  around a small conference table.

Our Approach

The Weiss Center engages industry leaders and partners to assess state readiness and conduct usability testing. Together, we identify and address the varying needs of the community to ensure access to data.