[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11748-11749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5769]
[[Page 11747]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part VII
Department of Education
_______________________________________________________________________
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research: Proposed
Funding Priority (Fiscal Years 1999-2000) for a Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Project; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 45 / Tuesday, March 9, 1999 /
Notices
[[Page 11748]]
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research;
Notice of Proposed Funding Priority for Fiscal Years 1999-2000 for a
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project
AGENCY: Department of Education.
SUMMARY: The Secretary proposes a funding priority for a Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Project (DRRP) under the National Institute on
Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) for fiscal years 1999-
2000. The Secretary takes this action to focus research attention on
areas of national need. This priority is intended to improve
rehabilitation services and outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 8, 1999.
ADDRESSES: All comments concerning these proposed priorities should be
addressed to Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Maryland
Avenue, S.W., room 3418, Switzer Building, Washington, D.C. 20202-2645.
Comments may also be sent through the Internet: comments@ed.gov.
You must include the terms ``Leadership Training Project'' in the
subject line of your electronic message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle. Telephone: (202) 205-
5880. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the TDD number at (202) 205-2742. Internet:
Donna__Nangle@ed.gov.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the preceding
paragraph.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice contains proposed priorities
under the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers
Program for a DRRP on leadership training. There is a reference in the
proposed priority to NIDRR's Long-Range Plan (LRP). The LRP can be
accessed on the World Wide Web at: http://www.ed.gov/legislation/
FedRegister/announcements/1998-4/102698a.html.
This proposed priority supports the National Education Goal that
calls for every adult American to possess the skills necessary to
compete in a global economy.
The authority for the Secretary to establish research priorities by
reserving funds to support particular research activities is contained
in sections 202(g) and 204 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as
amended (29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764).
The Secretary will announce the final priority in a notice in the
Federal Register. The final priority will be determined by responses to
this notice, available funds, and other considerations of the
Department. Funding of a particular project depends on the final
priority, the availability of funds, and the quality of the
applications received. The publication of this proposed priority does
not preclude the Secretary from proposing additional priorities, nor
does it limit the Secretary to funding only this priority, subject to
meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.
Note: This notice of proposed priority does not solicit
applications. A notice inviting applications under this competition
will be published in the Federal Register concurrent with or
following the publication of the notice of final priority.
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects
Authority for Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects
(DRRPs) is contained in section 204(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 764(a)). DRRPs carry out one or more of the
following types of activities, as specified in 34 CFR 350.13--350.19:
research, development, demonstration, training, dissemination,
utilization, and technical assistance. Disability and Rehabilitation
Research Projects develop methods, procedures, and rehabilitation
technology that maximize the full inclusion and integration into
society, employment, independent living, family support, and economic
and social self-sufficiency of individuals with disabilities,
especially individuals with the most severe disabilities. In addition,
DRRPs improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
Priority
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), the Secretary proposes to give an
absolute preference to applications that meet the following priority.
The Secretary proposes to fund under this competition only applications
that meet this priority.
Proposed Priority: Leadership Training
Introduction
Chapter Two of NIDRR's proposed LRP (63 FR 57194-57198) describes
the increased rate of disability in racial and ethnic minorities.
Disability services providers, including providers of vocational
rehabilitation services, are studying ways to improve access to, and
the provision of, services to minority populations. There is a need for
new training approaches in order to increase the number of leaders with
disabilities, including those from minority backgrounds, to become
effective advocates for all persons with disabilities.
Section 21 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, requires
that NIDRR reserve a portion of its appropriated funds for a fiscal
year to carry out certain activities. Section 21(b)(2)(A) authorizes
NIDRR to make awards to minority entities and Indian tribes to carry
out activities authorized under Title II of the Act. Minority entities
are defined as a historically Black college or university (a Part B
institution, as defined in Section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965), a Hispanic-serving institution of higher education, an
American Indian tribal college or university, or another institution of
higher education whose minority student enrollment is at least 50
percent. Consistent with Section 21(b)(2)(A), eligibility to apply for
this grant will be limited to minority entities and Indian tribes.
Proposed Priority
The Secretary proposes to establish a DRRP to increase the
leadership competencies of individuals with disabilities, including
those from minority backgrounds, who work for community-based
organizations, whose purpose is to improve the educational, employment,
and socio-economic status of diverse communities of people. The purpose
is to enable these trained individuals to maximize the full inclusion
and integration of individuals of disabilities of all ages into
society, employment, independent living, family support, and economic
and social self-sufficiency. The DRRP must:
(1) Identify national, State, and local disability-related
education, service, civil rights, and policy entities to participate in
the development of leadership training activities and strategies; and
(2) In cooperation with the entities identified under paragraph
(1), train emerging leaders with disabilities, including those from
minority backgrounds, who work for community-based organizations whose
purpose is to improve the educational, employment, and socio-economic
status of diverse communities of people. Areas of training may include:
service delivery, disability civil rights history and advocacy,
management, policy and financial analysis, and establishment of
policies and direction for rehabilitation programs.
[[Page 11749]]
In carrying out these purposes, the project must:
Address issues of equal access of minority individuals
with significant disabilities to rehabilitation services; and
Provide training on the philosophy of disability-related
self-determination and self-advocacy, development of peer
relationships, inclusion, independent living, and peer role models.
Electronic Access to This Document
Anyone may view this document, as well as all other Department of
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or
portable document format (pdf) on the World Wide Web at either of the
following sites:
http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.html
http://www.ed.gov/news.html
To use the pdf you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with
Search, which is available free at either of the preceding sites. If
you have questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government
Printing Office at (202) 512-1530 or, toll free at 1-888-293-6498.
Anyone may also view these documents in text copy only on an
electronic bulletin board of the Department. Telephone: (202) 219-1511
or, toll free, 1-800-222-4922. The documents are located under Option
G--Files/Announcements, Bulletins and Press Releases.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register.
INVITATION TO COMMENT: Interested persons are invited to submit
comments and recommendations regarding these proposed priorities. All
comments submitted in response to this notice will be available for
public inspection, during and after the comment period, in Room 3424,
Switzer Building, 330 C Street S.W., Washington, D.C., between the
hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday of each week
except Federal holidays.
Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR Part 350.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 760-762.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.133A, Disability
and Rehabilitation Research Projects)
Dated: March 2, 1999.
Judith E. Heumann,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 99-5769 Filed 3-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-U
