[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 8834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-5055]




[[Page 8833]]

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Part VIII





Department of Education





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National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research; 
Applications for New Awards Under the Research and Demonstration 
Program for Fiscal Years 1996-1997; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 44 / Tuesday, March 5, 1996 / 
Notices  

[[Page 8834]]


DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No.: 84.133A]


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; National 
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards Under the Research and Demonstration 
Program for Fiscal Years 1996-1997

    Purpose of Program: Research and Demonstration Projects support 
research and demonstrations in single project areas on problems 
encountered by individuals with disabilities in their daily activities. 
These projects may conduct research on rehabilitation techniques and 
services, including analysis of medical, industrial, vocational, 
social, psychiatric, psychological, recreational, economic, and other 
factors to improve the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities. 
In addition, the projects may conduct studies, analyses, and 
demonstrations of architectural and engineering design, including 
universal design, adapted to meet the special needs of individuals with 
disabilities.
    Eligible Applicants: Parties eligible to apply for grants under 
this program are public and private nonprofit and for-profit agencies 
and organizations, including institutions of higher education and 
Indian tribes and tribal organizations.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 17, 1996.
    Application Available: March 15, 1996.
    Available Funds: $425,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards Per Year: Architectural and 
Engineering Design--$250,000, Recreation--$175,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 2.
    Project Period: 36 months.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), 34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 
82, 85, 86; and (b) the regulations for this program in 34 CFR Parts 
350 and 351.

    Note: The estimates of funding levels and awards in this notice 
do not bind the Department of Education to a specific level of 
funding or number of grants.

    This notice supports the National Education Goal that calls for all 
Americans to possess the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in a 
global economy and exercise the rights and responsibilities of 
citizenship.
    Priorities: Under 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(v) and (c)(3) and Section 
204(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the Secretary 
gives an absolute preference to applications that meet one or both of 
the following priorities. The Secretary funds under this competition 
only applications that meet one or both of these absolute priorities:

Absolute Priority 1--Architectural and Engineering Design

    Studies, analyses, and demonstrations utilizing architectural and 
engineering designs to address the special needs of individuals with 
disabilities.
    Invitational Priority 1: Within absolute priority 1, the Secretary 
is particularly interested in applications that address the following 
invitational priority. However, under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) an 
application that meets an invitational priority does not receive 
competitive or absolute preference over other applications:
    Universal design is a holistic approach to creating environments 
and products that are usable by many people regardless of their 
abilities or age (Strategies for Teaching Universal Design, ed. by P. 
Welch, Adaptive Environments Center, Boston, MA, 1995). Manufacturers 
who apply principles of universal design to their products are making a 
significant contribution toward promoting the independence and 
inclusion of persons with disabilities in the mainstream of society. 
They are also increasing the market for their products by making those 
products attractive to or useable by larger numbers of people. 
Understanding the decision-making process of manufacturers who adopt 
principles of universal design can contribute to its increased 
utilization. The Secretary invites applications to investigate the 
factors contributing to the application of principles of universal 
design by manufacturers who have designed and marketed universally 
designed products.

Absolute Priority 2--Recreation

    Studies and analysis on the effects of recreation on the 
rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities.
    Invitational Priority 2: Within the absolute priority 2, the 
Secretary is particularly interested in applications that address the 
following invitational priority. However, under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) an 
application that meets an invitational priority does not receive 
competitive or absolute preference over other applications:
    Regular physical exercise and the resulting fitness can reduce the 
likelihood of heart disease, obesity, low back pain, depression, and 
other ailments associated with inactivity. Incorporating exercise into 
the lives of individuals with disabilities enables them to enjoy the 
physical and psychological benefits of fitness, achieve greater 
independence, and perform activities of daily living with less fatigue. 
The Secretary invites applications related to exercise and fitness for 
persons with disabilities. The Secretary invites applications on topics 
such as: (1) Measuring the fitness level of persons with disabilities 
and comparing it to the level of fitness of persons without 
disabilities; (2) evaluating the exercise habits of persons with 
disabilities; (3) determining the level of participation of persons 
with disabilities in utilizing fitness centers, programs, and products 
and identifying barriers to participation; or (4) designing 
modifications to exercise regimens to accommodate the needs of persons 
with disabilities.

FOR APPLICATIONS CONTACT: In order to obtain an application package, 
contact William H. Whalen, U.S. Department of Education, 600 
Independence Avenue S.W., Switzer Building, Room 3411, Washington, D.C. 
20202. Telephone: (202) 205-9141. Individuals who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the TDD number at 
(202) 205-8887.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Esquith, U.S. Department of 
Education, 600 Independence Avenue S.W., Switzer Building, Room 3424, 
Washington, D.C. 20202. Telephone: (202) 205-8801. Individuals who use 
a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the TDD number 
at (202) 205-8133. Internet: [email protected].
    Information about the Department's funding opportunities, including 
copies of application notices for discretionary grant competitions, can 
be viewed on the Department's electronic bulletin board (ED Board), 
telephone (202) 260-9950; on the Internet Gopher Server at 
GOPHER.ED.GOV (under Announcements, Bulletins, and Press Releases); or 
on the World Wide Web at http://www.ed.gov/money.html.
    However, the official application notice for a discretionary grant 
competition is the notice published in the Federal Register.

    Program Authority:  29 U.S.C. 761a and 762.

    Dated: February 28, 1996.
Katherine D. Seelman,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services.
[FR Doc. 96-5055 Filed 3-4-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P