[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 16, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 53902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26379]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Notice of Availability

SUMMARY: The Department announces the availability of its Final Report 
on the Section 504 Self-evaluation (Final Report), conducted by the 
Department of Education under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 
1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 794). The Final Report examines the 
accessibility of the Department's programs and activities to persons 
with disabilities.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 
1973, as amended, provides that no otherwise qualified person with a 
disability shall, solely by reason of his or her disability, be 
excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be 
subjected to discrimination under any program or activity conducted by 
any Executive agency. The Department of Education published regulations 
implementing Section 504 in 34 CFR Part 105. Pursuant to 34 CFR 105.10, 
the Department of Education has conducted a self-evaluation of its 
current policies and practices, assessing how effectively they meet the 
requirements of Section 504 and its implementing regulations.

    On April 8, 1996, 61 FR 15472, the Department published in the 
Federal Register a notice soliciting public comments on the draft 
report of its Section 504 Self-evaluation. The Department received 
comments from nine commenters, primarily organizations representing or 
involved with people with disabilities, and those comments and the 
Department's responses are discussed in Appendix F to the Final Report. 
The Final Report contains (1) an evaluation of the accessibility of the 
Department's programs, activities, and facilities to persons with 
disabilities; (2) recommendations for improving the accessibility of 
the Department; (3) summaries of the self-evaluations conducted by each 
Principal Office of the Department; and (4) summaries of the 
architectural survey of Departmental facilities. The Department has 
organized two task forces to assist in the implementation of (1) 
program accessibility, and (2) facility accessibility as proposed by 
the recommendations of the Final Report.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A copy of the Department's Final 
Report is available in the Department's Public Reading Room located in 
Room 1333, Federal Office Building 10B, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., 
Washington, D.C., between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Monday 
through Friday of each week except Federal holidays. A copy of the 
Final Report may be obtained by writing or calling Eunice Fiorito, 
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. 
Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 3316, Mary 
E. Switzer Building, Washington, D.C. 20202-2500. Telephone: (202) 205-
8355. FAX: (202) 205-9252. Internet: Eunice__ F[email protected] 
Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may 
call the TDD number at (202) 205-5465 or the Federal Information Relay 
Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern 
time, Monday through Friday. Copies of the Final Report are available 
in alternative formats upon request. The Final Report may also be 
obtained by accessing the Internet Gopher Server (at GOPHER.ED.GOV) and 
on the World Wide Web (at http://www.ed.gov/pubs/Sec504/).

    Dated: October 8, 1996.
Howard R. Moses,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services.
[FR Doc. 96-26379 Filed 10-15-96; 8:45 am]
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