Introduction
Audio Describer:
This video contains audio descriptions for the blind and visually impaired. WestEd logo appears.
Narrator:
Welcome to the new WestEd.org.
Audio Describer:
A screen capture of WestEd.org appears. Above the screen capture are the words “Thriving Learners, Empowered Communities.”
Narrator:
To support our mission to promote excellence, achieve equity, and improve learning for children, youth, and adults, we’re excited to introduce our updated website—designed to give you easier access to our most valuable services and resources.
Audio Describer:
The new WestEd.org homepage features silent videos of educators and students interacting in learning settings. The homepage tagline is “Transforming systems for the future.” The word “systems” changes every few seconds, first to “practice,” then “research,” then “learning.”
Narrator:
Our new and improved WestEd.org reflects our focus on supporting thriving learners and empowered communities.
Homepage
Audio Describer:
We zoom into the homepage so it is in full screen view and highlight key items on the main navigation menu: How We Help, Blog, Events, and Resources.
Narrator:
The homepage is the gateway to learning How We Can Help you in your work and providing access to our Blog, Events Calendar, and Resources.
How We Help
Audio Describer:
A cursor selects the “How We Help” option from the main navigation menu. The “How We Help” page opens.
Narrator:
We make it easier than ever to learn how we apply research to address enduring challenges. Discover how we are transforming how practitioners use evidence through our services.
Audio Describer:
We scroll through key headings on the page: Research and Evaluation, Professional Learning, Technical Assistance and Policy Analysis, and National Centers.
Narrator:
We partner with you to provide research and evaluation, professional learning, and technical assistance to inform policies and practices that serve the needs of your communities.
Audio Describer:
A cursor selects the “Learn about the centers and how to partner with them” hyperlink. A page titled “National Centers” opens. Key headings are highlighted. The page offers hyperlinks to the Federally Funded Centers that WestEd supports and the content-focused centers that WestEd operates.
Narrator:
We also showcase our collaborations with diverse partners through the national centers we operate that are expanding capacity and improving outcomes for learners and their communities.
Research and Evaluation
Audio Describer:
We return to the “How We Help” page, and a cursor selects the hyperlink “Learn more about our approach and see examples of our impact.” The “Research and Evaluation at WestEd” page opens.
Narrator:
As a leading national research organization, we are at the forefront of addressing difficult and entrenched systemic challenges in education and human development.
Audio Describer:
We scroll through the page, highlighting key headings: “Our Approach” and “Connecting Research and Practice.”
Narrator:
Throughout our site, we connect research and practice across many domains and stages of our work, from building evidence to offering services that apply our research to evaluating the effectiveness of programs and interventions.
Focus Areas
Audio Describer:
We return to the “How We Help” page again and scroll to the “Focus Areas” section. WestEd’s key focus areas are listed with information and hyperlinks to dedicated pages for each one. The cursor selects one of the focus areas and a corresponding page opens. Key headings from the page are highlighted.
Narrator:
Our Focus Area pages give you a holistic view of the supports we provide by highlighting practical insights, timely findings, useful resources, key experts, and related services to meet your needs.
Insights & Impact Blog
Audio Describer:
We return to the homepage. The cursor selects “Blog” from the main menu. A page titled “Insights and Impact” opens.
Narrator:
Our Insights and Impact blog—which we update regularly—provides insights from our most impactful work along with the latest WestEd news.
Audio Describer:
The cursor selects an article link, and the full article opens.
Events
Audio Describer:
We return to the homepage. The cursor selects “Events” from the main menu. A page titled “Upcoming Events” opens. It lists upcoming events and offers filters for narrowing your search.
Narrator:
We help you stay up to date about important online and in-person professional learning opportunities and events where WestEd experts will lead webinars, presentations, workshops, and more to showcase research findings and practical information to help you in your work.
Audio Describer:
The cursor selects an event link, and the corresponding event page opens. The page includes key information about the event and offers a registration link. An event page for a conference is also shown.
Resources
Audio Describer:
We return to the homepage. The cursor selects “Resources” from the main navigation menu, and the “Resources” page opens.
Narrator:
Access high-quality resources designed for educators, researchers, and leaders at every level. You can now find helpful resources by selecting your role and a topic that best fits your needs.
Audio Describer:
The cursor navigates to a blue bar at the bottom of the page and selects dropdown options for “role” and “topic” to complete the sentence, “I am a teacher interested in Mathematics Education.” After the “Search” button is selected, a “Library” page shows resources based on those filtering selections.
We return to the “Resources” page. The cursor selects the “View Full Library” hyperlink. The “Library” page opens, and the filtering options are highlighted.
Narrator:
On our full Library page, you can use the filters to view resources by date of publication, focus area, audience, level, and format.
About Us
Audio Describer:
We return to the homepage. The cursor selects “About Us” from the main menu, and the “About Us” page opens.
Narrator:
Learn about WestEd’s values, priorities, and history on our About Us page.
Search
Audio Describer:
We return to the homepage. The cursor enters the Search bar, located next to the main menu, and the user searches for “Special Education.” A search results page opens
Narrator:
Our updated search function allows you to find information and services tailored to your specific role and interests. You can use the available filters to narrow your search results.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Audio Describer:
We return to the homepage. The cursor selects “Subscribe to our Newsletter,” from the top of the page, and a “Subscription” form opens.
Narrator:
Subscribe to WestEd’s E-Bulletin to stay up to date about our research, professional learning and technical assistance, career opportunities, and more. You can select your areas of interest to ensure you receive personalized content.
Conclusion
We return to the screen capture view of WestEd.org with the words “Thriving Learners, Empowered Communities” above it.
Narrator:
Thank you for watching. We hope you find our new website is a helpful resource for supporting your thriving learners and empowered communities.
Audio Describer:
WestEd logo appears. WestEd.org.