[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11748-11749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5769]



[[Page 11747]]

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Part VII





Department of Education





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National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research: Proposed 
Funding Priority (Fiscal Years 1999-2000) for a Disability and 
Rehabilitation Research Project; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 45 / Tuesday, March 9, 1999 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research; 
Notice of Proposed Funding Priority for Fiscal Years 1999-2000 for a 
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project

AGENCY: Department of Education.

SUMMARY: The Secretary proposes a funding priority for a Disability and 
Rehabilitation Research Project (DRRP) under the National Institute on 
Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) for fiscal years 1999-
2000. The Secretary takes this action to focus research attention on 
areas of national need. This priority is intended to improve 
rehabilitation services and outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 8, 1999.

ADDRESSES: All comments concerning these proposed priorities should be 
addressed to Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Maryland 
Avenue, S.W., room 3418, Switzer Building, Washington, D.C. 20202-2645. 
Comments may also be sent through the Internet: [email protected].
    You must include the terms ``Leadership Training Project'' in the 
subject line of your electronic message.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle. Telephone: (202) 205-
5880. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf 
(TDD) may call the TDD number at (202) 205-2742. Internet: 
Donna__N[email protected].
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 
alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the preceding 
paragraph.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice contains proposed priorities 
under the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers 
Program for a DRRP on leadership training. There is a reference in the 
proposed priority to NIDRR's Long-Range Plan (LRP). The LRP can be 
accessed on the World Wide Web at: http://www.ed.gov/legislation/
FedRegister/announcements/1998-4/102698a.html.
    This proposed priority supports the National Education Goal that 
calls for every adult American to possess the skills necessary to 
compete in a global economy.
    The authority for the Secretary to establish research priorities by 
reserving funds to support particular research activities is contained 
in sections 202(g) and 204 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as 
amended (29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764).
    The Secretary will announce the final 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 a particular project 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 proposed priority does not solicit 
applications. A notice inviting applications under this competition 
will be published in the Federal Register concurrent with or 
following the publication of the notice of final priority.

Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects

    Authority for Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects 
(DRRPs) is contained in section 204(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 
1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 764(a)). DRRPs carry out one or more of the 
following types of activities, as specified in 34 CFR 350.13--350.19: 
research, development, demonstration, training, dissemination, 
utilization, and technical assistance. Disability and Rehabilitation 
Research Projects develop methods, procedures, and rehabilitation 
technology that maximize the full inclusion and integration into 
society, employment, independent living, family support, and economic 
and social self-sufficiency of individuals with disabilities, 
especially individuals with the most severe disabilities. In addition, 
DRRPs improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

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 competition only applications 
that meet this priority.

Proposed Priority: Leadership Training

Introduction
    Chapter Two of NIDRR's proposed LRP (63 FR 57194-57198) describes 
the increased rate of disability in racial and ethnic minorities. 
Disability services providers, including providers of vocational 
rehabilitation services, are studying ways to improve access to, and 
the provision of, services to minority populations. There is a need for 
new training approaches in order to increase the number of leaders with 
disabilities, including those from minority backgrounds, to become 
effective advocates for all persons with disabilities.
    Section 21 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, requires 
that NIDRR reserve a portion of its appropriated funds for a fiscal 
year to carry out certain activities. Section 21(b)(2)(A) authorizes 
NIDRR to make awards to minority entities and Indian tribes to carry 
out activities authorized under Title II of the Act. Minority entities 
are defined as a historically Black college or university (a Part B 
institution, as defined in Section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965), a Hispanic-serving institution of higher education, an 
American Indian tribal college or university, or another institution of 
higher education whose minority student enrollment is at least 50 
percent. Consistent with Section 21(b)(2)(A), eligibility to apply for 
this grant will be limited to minority entities and Indian tribes.

Proposed Priority

    The Secretary proposes to establish a DRRP to increase the 
leadership competencies of individuals with disabilities, including 
those from minority backgrounds, who work for community-based 
organizations, whose purpose is to improve the educational, employment, 
and socio-economic status of diverse communities of people. The purpose 
is to enable these trained individuals to maximize the full inclusion 
and integration of individuals of disabilities of all ages into 
society, employment, independent living, family support, and economic 
and social self-sufficiency. The DRRP must:
    (1) Identify national, State, and local disability-related 
education, service, civil rights, and policy entities to participate in 
the development of leadership training activities and strategies; and
    (2) In cooperation with the entities identified under paragraph 
(1), train emerging leaders with disabilities, including those from 
minority backgrounds, who work for community-based organizations whose 
purpose is to improve the educational, employment, and socio-economic 
status of diverse communities of people. Areas of training may include: 
service delivery, disability civil rights history and advocacy, 
management, policy and financial analysis, and establishment of 
policies and direction for rehabilitation programs.

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    In carrying out these purposes, the project must:
      Address issues of equal access of minority individuals 
with significant disabilities to rehabilitation services; and
      Provide training on the philosophy of disability-related 
self-determination and self-advocacy, development of peer 
relationships, inclusion, independent living, and peer role models.

Electronic Access to This Document

    Anyone may view this document, as well as all other Department of 
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or 
portable document format (pdf) on the World Wide Web at either of the 
following sites:
http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.html
http://www.ed.gov/news.html

To use the pdf you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with 
Search, which is available free at either of the preceding sites. If 
you have questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government 
Printing Office at (202) 512-1530 or, toll free at 1-888-293-6498.
    Anyone may also view these documents in text copy only on an 
electronic bulletin board of the Department. Telephone: (202) 219-1511 
or, toll free, 1-800-222-4922. The documents are located under Option 
G--Files/Announcements, Bulletins and Press Releases.

    Note: The official version of this document is the document 
published in the Federal Register.

    INVITATION TO COMMENT: Interested persons are invited to submit 
comments and recommendations regarding these proposed priorities. All 
comments submitted in response to this notice will be available for 
public inspection, during and after the comment period, in Room 3424, 
Switzer Building, 330 C Street S.W., Washington, D.C., between the 
hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday of each week 
except Federal holidays.

    Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR Part 350.

    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 760-762.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.133A, Disability 
and Rehabilitation Research Projects)

    Dated: March 2, 1999.
Judith E. Heumann,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 99-5769 Filed 3-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-U