[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29528-29529]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-13851]
[[Page 29527]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part VII
Department of Education
_______________________________________________________________________
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research; Funding
Priority for Fiscal Years 1999-2000 for a Disability and Rehabilitation
Research Project; Inviting Applications for a New Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Project for Fiscal Year 1999; Notices
Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 104 / Tuesday, June 1, 1999 /
Notices
[[Page 29528]]
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research;
Funding Priority for Fiscal Years 1999-2000 for a Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Project
AGENCY: Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of funding priority for fiscal years 1999-2000 for a
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project.
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SUMMARY: The Secretary announces 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.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This priority takes effect on July 1, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of
Education, 600 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 3418, Switzer Building,
Washington, DC. 20202-2645. 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 a final priority 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 final 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).
Note: This notice of final 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.
Analysis of Comments and Changes
On March 9, 1999 the Secretary published a notice of proposed
priority in the Federal Register (64 FR 11748). The Department of
Education received five letters commenting on the notice of final
priority by the deadline date. An analysis of the comments and of the
changes in the priority since publication of the proposed priority
follows. Generally, we do not address technical and other minor
changes--and suggested changes the law does not authorize the Secretary
to make.
Priority: Leadership Training
Comment: The areas of training should be broader and include
training in interpersonal communication. In addition, the training
should increase knowledge across a broad range of disabilities
including physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities.
Discussion: The priority states the goal of the leadership training
and the areas of training that may be included in the project. Working
toward that goal, applicants have the discretion to propose the
specific areas of training. An applicant could propose to provide
training in interpersonal communication and increase knowledge across a
broad range of disabilities including physical, cognitive, and
emotional disabilities. The peer review process will evaluate the
merits of the proposal. NIDRR has no basis to require all applicants to
provide training on interpersonal communication and knowledge across a
broad range of disabilities including physical, cognitive, and
emotional disabilities.
Changes: None.
Comment: Four commenters recommended that potential trainees should
include not only those who work for community-based organizations, but
also those who work with those organizations (e.g., volunteers). One
commenter recommended that persons with disabilities who are served by
community-based organizations should be eligible to be trainees.
Discussion: NIDRR believes that the pool of eligible trainees
should be as large as possible, and therefore agree that all of these
individuals could be included, on the condition that they have
demonstrated leadership potential. NIDRR agrees that individuals who
work with, or who are served by community-based organizations should be
eligible to be trainees along with those who are employed by those
organizations.
Changes: The priority has been revised to include as potential
trainees those individuals with disabilities who have demonstrated
leadership potential, including those from minority backgrounds, who
work for, or with, or are served by community-based organizations.
Comment: The entities listed in the first required activity should
not be limited to those that are disability-related.
Discussion: The priority's purpose is to increase the leadership
competencies of persons with disabilities in order to enhance their
ability to improve the lives of persons with disabilities. Eliminating
the requirement that cooperating entities must be disability-related
would undermine this purpose.
Changes: None.
Comment: Can the priority's focus be expanded to include
international exchange activities and participants from other
countries?
Discussion: The priority is intended to train emerging leaders who
work for, or with, or are served by community-based organizations in
cooperation with national, State, and local entities. International
exchange activities are outside the scope of the priority, and
participation of individuals from other countries is outside the scope
of the priority unless they work for, or with, or are served by
eligible community-based organizations.
Changes: None.
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 gives an
absolute preference to applications that meet the
[[Page 29529]]
following priority. The Secretary will fund under this competition only
applications that meet this priority.
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.
Priority: The Secretary will establish a DRRP to increase the
leadership competencies of individuals with disabilities, including
those from minority backgrounds, who work for, or with, or are served
by 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:
(a) 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
(b) In cooperation with the entities identified under paragraph
(a), train individuals with disabilities who have demonstrated
leadership potential, including those from minority backgrounds, who
work for, or with, or are served by 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.
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
You may review this document, as well as all other Department of
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe
Portable Document Format (PDF) on the World Wide Web at either of the
following sites:
http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm
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 (GPO) at (202) 512-1530 or, toll free at 1-888-293-
6498.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available on GPO access at:
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html
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: May 20, 1999.
Judith E. Heumann,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 99-13851 Filed 5-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-U
