About the Center
Our approach to increasing access to data focuses on the end user’s experience. We seek out everyone's voice and perspective across the lifecycle of our products and services.
What is the inspiration behind the Rhonda Weiss Center for Accessible IDEA Data? In this video, Weiss Center Co-directors, Fred Edora and Johan Rempel, discuss the vision of improving IDEA data accessibility and what it means to them on a personal level.
Leadership
AEM has been awarded a multiyear grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) to lead the new Rhonda Weiss Center for Accessible IDEA Data. The Weiss Center will improve state capacity to provide comprehensive access to data under Part B and Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and enhance understanding of accessibility standards and best practices.
AEM Corporation leads this initiative, providing leadership and expertise in creating technologies and designs that are accessible at the highest standards.
The Partners
The Rhonda Weiss Center for Accessible IDEA Data collaborates with leading experts to enhance the accessibility of education data. Together, the Weiss Center and our partners work towards making education data more accessible and beneficial for students with disabilities.
CIDI at Georgia Tech is recognized for its leadership in digital accessibility. Their commitment to accessible design and assistive technology sets a benchmark in the field, making digital spaces more navigable and user-friendly.
The University of Washington plays a key role in providing extensive training in digital accessibility, equipping individuals and organizations with the knowledge and skills to create more accessible digital environments.
Westat is a leader in research, data collection and analysis, technical assistance, evaluation, and communications. Supporting states effectively on the collection and reporting of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) data.
Our Inspiration
Rhonda Weiss was a dedicated and compassionate attorney and disability advocate who made a significant impact in the field of education. As a U.S. Department of Education attorney, she fought hard for the rights of students with disabilities. She was known for her strong commitment to justice and her unwavering dedication to helping those in need.
Rhonda Weiss with short hair is smiling and proudly embracing her daughter during her graduation ceremony.
Rhonda's passing is a great loss to both the disability and education communities. But her work will continue to inspire and motivate those who seek to make a positive difference in the lives of people with disabilities. Her legacy lives on through the Rhonda Weiss Center for Accessible IDEA Data. And most importantly, it lives on through all the students she helped and the families she touched.
”Rhonda Weiss touched so many people's lives in so many beautiful ways. The work that she did at the department of education really impacted so many children around the country and their families, and they won't ever know her name, but we know that she was the real leading person in helping to advance the rights of disabled children.” - Judith Heumann, “the mother” of the disability rights movement.
The Accessibility Center
The Rhonda Weiss Center for Accessible IDEA Data improves state capacity to report Part B and Part C Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) data in accessible formats.
The Weiss Center, along with trusted partners, works closely with states to help them deal with challenges related to making IDEA data accessible.
The Weiss Center, along with trusted partners, works closely with states to help them deal with challenges related to making IDEA data accessible.
The services delivered by the Weiss Center will benefit state education agencies in the following ways:
Improve knowledge about accessibility needs, standards, best practices, and how to apply them.
Build skills and competency needed to make state-level data more accessible in dynamic formats.
Enhance the ability to share knowledge about accessibility with other states, local education agencies (LEAs), and early intervention (EI) programs.
Increase access to data by people who have historically been excluded. This will improve data quality due to broader data use and analysis.
The Weiss Center works to ensure that everyone can easily access IDEA data. We do this through several key activities:
Providing different levels of technical support, that is intensive, targeted, and universal.
Designing and implementing accessible software that increases access to IDEA data.
Connecting with the community to understand what people need and what problems they have with accessing data.
Improving our accessibility tool to meet emerging needs and technology.
Developing resources and tools, including training models, caching systems, and curriculum.
Forming a body of knowledge of accessibility needs and practices.
Partnering with other Data Centers, accessibility experts, and end users.
Measuring the readiness of SEAs, LEAs, State Lead Agencies (LAs), and Early Intervention Service (EIS) program and provider personnel.
