[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 16, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 53902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26379]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Notice of Availability
SUMMARY: The Department announces the availability of its Final Report
on the Section 504 Self-evaluation (Final Report), conducted by the
Department of Education under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 794). The Final Report examines the
accessibility of the Department's programs and activities to persons
with disabilities.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, as amended, provides that no otherwise qualified person with a
disability shall, solely by reason of his or her disability, be
excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be
subjected to discrimination under any program or activity conducted by
any Executive agency. The Department of Education published regulations
implementing Section 504 in 34 CFR Part 105. Pursuant to 34 CFR 105.10,
the Department of Education has conducted a self-evaluation of its
current policies and practices, assessing how effectively they meet the
requirements of Section 504 and its implementing regulations.
On April 8, 1996, 61 FR 15472, the Department published in the
Federal Register a notice soliciting public comments on the draft
report of its Section 504 Self-evaluation. The Department received
comments from nine commenters, primarily organizations representing or
involved with people with disabilities, and those comments and the
Department's responses are discussed in Appendix F to the Final Report.
The Final Report contains (1) an evaluation of the accessibility of the
Department's programs, activities, and facilities to persons with
disabilities; (2) recommendations for improving the accessibility of
the Department; (3) summaries of the self-evaluations conducted by each
Principal Office of the Department; and (4) summaries of the
architectural survey of Departmental facilities. The Department has
organized two task forces to assist in the implementation of (1)
program accessibility, and (2) facility accessibility as proposed by
the recommendations of the Final Report.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A copy of the Department's Final
Report is available in the Department's Public Reading Room located in
Room 1333, Federal Office Building 10B, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W.,
Washington, D.C., between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Monday
through Friday of each week except Federal holidays. A copy of the
Final Report may be obtained by writing or calling Eunice Fiorito,
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S.
Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 3316, Mary
E. Switzer Building, Washington, D.C. 20202-2500. Telephone: (202) 205-
8355. FAX: (202) 205-9252. Internet: Eunice__ Fiorito@ed.gov
Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may
call the TDD number at (202) 205-5465 or the Federal Information Relay
Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern
time, Monday through Friday. Copies of the Final Report are available
in alternative formats upon request. The Final Report may also be
obtained by accessing the Internet Gopher Server (at GOPHER.ED.GOV) and
on the World Wide Web (at http://www.ed.gov/pubs/Sec504/).
Dated: October 8, 1996.
Howard R. Moses,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services.
[FR Doc. 96-26379 Filed 10-15-96; 8:45 am]
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