[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]




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Part II





Department of Education





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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