[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 141 (Monday, July 24, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37926-37927]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-18065]
[[Page 37925]]
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Part II
Department of Education
_______________________________________________________________________
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 141 / Monday, July 24, 1995 /
Notices
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
AGENCY: Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of proposed funding priority for fiscal years 1996-1997
for the Knowledge Dissemination and Utilization Program.
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SUMMARY: The Secretary proposes a funding priority for the Knowledge
Dissemination and Utilization (D&U) Program under the National
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) for fiscal
years 1996-1997. The Secretary takes this action to ensure that
rehabilitation knowledge generated from projects and centers funded by
NIDRR and others is utilized fully to improve the lives of individuals
with disabilities and their families.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 23, 1995.
ADDRESSES: All comments concerning this proposed priority should be
addressed to David Esquith, U.S. Department of Education, 600
Independence Avenue SW., Switzer Building, Room 3424, Washington, D.C.
20202-2601. (Internet address [email protected]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Esquith. Telephone: (202) 205-8801. Individuals who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the TDD number at
(202) 205-8133.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice contains a proposed priority to
establish ten regional Disability and Business Technical Assistance
Centers. Authority for the D&U program of NIDRR is contained in
sections 202 and 204(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
(29 U.S.C. 760-762). Under this program the Secretary makes awards to
public and private organizations, including institutions of higher
education and Indian tribes or tribal organizations. Under the
regulations for this program (see 34 CFR 355.32), the Secretary may
establish research priorities by reserving funds to support particular
research activities.
This proposed priority supports the National Education Goal calling
for all Americans to possess the knowledge and skills necessary to
compete in a global economy and exercise the rights and
responsibilities of citizenship.
The Secretary will announce the final funding 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 particular projects 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 a proposed priority does not solicit
applications. A notice inviting applications under this competition
will be published in the Federal Register concurrent with or
following publication of the notice of the final priority.
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 program only applications
that meet this absolute priority:
Proposed Priority: Regional Disability and Business Technical
Assistance Centers
Background
Public Law 101-336, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),
enacted on July 26, 1990, prohibits discrimination against individuals
with disabilities in employment, public accommodations, transportation,
State and local government, and telecommunications. Because of NIDRR's
experience and support of information dissemination and technical
assistance, and its support of research and demonstration efforts to
promote employment and independence for individuals with disabilities,
Congress directed NIDRR to use FY 1991 funds to establish a technical
assistance program to further the successful implementation of the ADA.
In October of 1991, NIDRR awarded grants to establish ten regional
Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTACs)
previously referred to as Regional Disability and Business
Accommodation Centers) for five years. There is one DBTAC in each of
the ten Department of Education regions. The final funding priority for
the original DBTACs is contained in the Federal Register of August 13,
1991, 56 FR 40168.
Covered entities and individuals with responsibilities and rights
under the ADA continue to need technical assistance on the ADA. The ADA
is a complex and relatively new civil rights statute. Many covered
entities may be unaware of the basic requirements of the law or
unfamiliar with legal precedents or policy guidance being issued by
Federal agencies. According to a recent General Accounting Office (GAO)
Report, ``[GAO] observed steady improvement in both accessibility and
awareness during the initial 15 months that the ADA was in effect.
However, enough areas of concern remain to suggest a need for
continuing educational outreach and technical assistance to business
and government agencies * * *'' (U.S. General Accounting Office,
Americans with Disabilities Act: Effects of the Law on Access to Goods
and Services (GAO/PEMD-94-14; June 21, 1994).
The DBTACs provide a wide range of technical assistance services
such as referrals, consultation, and facility surveys. The DBTACs
disseminate information on the ADA through such methods as distributing
materials that have been created or reviewed and approved by Federal
agencies, issuing newsletters and information briefs, and participating
in discussion groups on the INTERNET. In addition, the DBTACs carry out
public awareness activities on the ADA and the services provided by the
DBTACs and other NIDRR ADA grantees through a variety of means
including, but not limited to, the use of public service announcements,
radio and television appearances, presentations at conferences, and the
publication of newspaper and magazine articles.
The DBTACs' resources and financial support of State-based
activities are, to the maximum extent feasible, distributed equitably
among the States in the region. In order to tailor their efforts to
State and local needs and maximize their resources, DBTACs increase the
capacity of State and local organizations to provide technical
assistance, disseminate information, provide training, and promote
awareness of the ADA. The DBTACs have established at least one
affiliate in every State. The State affiliates carry out their
activities in collaboration with coalitions of organizations interested
in promoting the implementation of the ADA. In addition, the DBTACs
provide support to and collaborate with Centers for Independent Living
(CILs) in each region to increase the capacity of CILs to promote the
successful implementation of the ADA through the provision of technical
assistance and training.
In FY 1994 the DBTACs fielded over 75,700 ADA-related telephone
inquiries, made 13,764 referrals, distributed almost 700,000
publications, engaged in over 4,600 different types of public awareness
and outreach activities such as public speeches, TV and radio
appearances, newspaper interviews, and public workshops, and trained
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approximately 54,000 individuals with responsibilities and rights under
the ADA.
The DBTACs rely to the maximum extent possible on existing
Federally-approved materials, and, through a systematic process of
quality control, ensure the legal sufficiency and accuracy of the
information disseminated by the Centers and their affiliates. All of
the materials that the DBTACs distribute are available in alternate
formats and DBTAC services and activities are accessible to all
individuals with disabilities. The DBTACs share a national 800
telephone number that automatically connects the caller with the DBTAC
serving the caller's area code and participate in a discussion group on
an electronic bulletin board operated by Project Enable at the
University of West Virginia to share information and discuss answers to
technical questions.
Proposed Priority
The Secretary proposes to establish a Regional Disability and
Business Technical Assistance Center in each Department of Education
region to facilitate implementation of the ADA by:
(1) Providing technical assistance, disseminating information, and
providing training to individuals or entities with responsibilities and
rights under the Act on the requirements of the ADA and developments in
ADA case law, policy and implementation; (2) increasing the capacity of
organizations at the State and local level to provide technical
assistance, disseminate information, provide training, and promote
awareness of the ADA; and (3) promoting awareness of the ADA and the
availability of services provided by the DBTACs, and other NIDRR ADA
grantees, and other Federal information sources on the ADA.
In addition to activities proposed by the applicant to carry out
these purposes, each DBTAC shall carry out the following activities:
Involve individuals with disabilities, parents or other
family members of individuals with disabilities, in all phases of the
design and operation of the DBTAC to the maximum extent possible;
Cooperate and coordinate its activities with other NIDRR
ADA technical assistance projects as well as Federal agencies
including, but not limited to, the Department of Justice, the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Transportation,
the Federal Communications Commission, the Access Board, the Department
of Education's Office for Civil Rights, the Rehabilitation Services
Administration, and the President's Committee on Employment of Persons
with Disabilities; and
Provide performance accountability data on a monthly basis
as requested by NIDRR.
Invitation to Comment
Interested persons are invited to submit comments and
recommendations regarding this proposed priority.
All comments submitted in response to this proposed priority will
be available for public inspection, during and after the comment
period, in Room 3423, Switzer Building, 330 C Street SW., Washington,
DC between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
of each week except Federal holidays.
Applicable Program Regulations
34 CFR Parts 350 and 355.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 760-762.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.133D, Knowledge
Dissemination and Utilization Program)
Dated: June 16, 1995.
Judith E. Heumann,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 95-18065 Filed 7-21-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-M
