04-2248. Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports Clearance Officer on [phone].

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Send comments to Seleda Perryman, CDC Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-E11, Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project: Development of an Assistive Technology and Environmental Assessment Instrument for National Surveys—New—National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Recent federal policy initiatives have targeted the removal of environmental barriers and increased access to assistive and universally designed technologies in order to increase participation in major life activities by persons of all ages with disabilities. Yet, few statistics are available to quantify the potential demand for assistive technologies and no criteria exist to evaluate the potential impact of broadened access.

CDC is seeking OMB approval to cognitively test and pilot a survey instrument that collects information on disabled persons' access to, and use of, assistive technologies and environmental modifications that can be implemented in national health surveys. This information will help policy makers and scientists understand the interface among disability, assistive devices, and environmental modifications. Through a cooperative agreement with the National Institute on Aging, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation has funded researchers at the Polisher Research Institute and Johns Hopkins University to develop the new measures to be tested. The testing will be conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics with funding from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Department of Health and Human Services.

Approximately 300 interviews will be conducted with adults with disabilities living in the community. These interviews will be 45 minutes in length. To the extent possible, different modes of administration will be utilized (e.g. in-person, telephone, or mixed) and racially diverse samples of persons with disabilities in both rural and urban settings will be selected to maximize the sensitivity of the instrument across diverse populations. There is no cost to the respondents other than their time.

Respondents	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondents	Average burden per response (in hrs.)	Total burden (in hrs.)
Adult with Disabilities	300	1	45/60	225
Total				225

Dated: January 27, 2004.

Alvin Hall,

Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.