[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 1, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 29528-29529] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-13851] [[Page 29527]] _______________________________________________________________________ Part VII Department of Education _______________________________________________________________________ National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research; Funding Priority for Fiscal Years 1999-2000 for a Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project; Inviting Applications for a New Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project for Fiscal Year 1999; Notices Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 104 / Tuesday, June 1, 1999 / Notices [[Page 29528]] DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research; Funding Priority for Fiscal Years 1999-2000 for a Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project AGENCY: Department of Education. ACTION: Notice of funding priority for fiscal years 1999-2000 for a Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Secretary announces 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. EFFECTIVE DATE: This priority takes effect on July 1, 1999. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 3418, Switzer Building, Washington, DC. 20202-2645. 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 a final priority 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 final 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). Note: This notice of final 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. Analysis of Comments and Changes On March 9, 1999 the Secretary published a notice of proposed priority in the Federal Register (64 FR 11748). The Department of Education received five letters commenting on the notice of final priority by the deadline date. An analysis of the comments and of the changes in the priority since publication of the proposed priority follows. Generally, we do not address technical and other minor changes--and suggested changes the law does not authorize the Secretary to make. Priority: Leadership Training Comment: The areas of training should be broader and include training in interpersonal communication. In addition, the training should increase knowledge across a broad range of disabilities including physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities. Discussion: The priority states the goal of the leadership training and the areas of training that may be included in the project. Working toward that goal, applicants have the discretion to propose the specific areas of training. An applicant could propose to provide training in interpersonal communication and increase knowledge across a broad range of disabilities including physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities. The peer review process will evaluate the merits of the proposal. NIDRR has no basis to require all applicants to provide training on interpersonal communication and knowledge across a broad range of disabilities including physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities. Changes: None. Comment: Four commenters recommended that potential trainees should include not only those who work for community-based organizations, but also those who work with those organizations (e.g., volunteers). One commenter recommended that persons with disabilities who are served by community-based organizations should be eligible to be trainees. Discussion: NIDRR believes that the pool of eligible trainees should be as large as possible, and therefore agree that all of these individuals could be included, on the condition that they have demonstrated leadership potential. NIDRR agrees that individuals who work with, or who are served by community-based organizations should be eligible to be trainees along with those who are employed by those organizations. Changes: The priority has been revised to include as potential trainees those individuals with disabilities who have demonstrated leadership potential, including those from minority backgrounds, who work for, or with, or are served by community-based organizations. Comment: The entities listed in the first required activity should not be limited to those that are disability-related. Discussion: The priority's purpose is to increase the leadership competencies of persons with disabilities in order to enhance their ability to improve the lives of persons with disabilities. Eliminating the requirement that cooperating entities must be disability-related would undermine this purpose. Changes: None. Comment: Can the priority's focus be expanded to include international exchange activities and participants from other countries? Discussion: The priority is intended to train emerging leaders who work for, or with, or are served by community-based organizations in cooperation with national, State, and local entities. International exchange activities are outside the scope of the priority, and participation of individuals from other countries is outside the scope of the priority unless they work for, or with, or are served by eligible community-based organizations. Changes: None. 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 gives an absolute preference to applications that meet the [[Page 29529]] following priority. The Secretary will fund under this competition only applications that meet this priority. 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. Priority: The Secretary will establish a DRRP to increase the leadership competencies of individuals with disabilities, including those from minority backgrounds, who work for, or with, or are served by 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: (a) 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 (b) In cooperation with the entities identified under paragraph (a), train individuals with disabilities who have demonstrated leadership potential, including those from minority backgrounds, who work for, or with, or are served by 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. 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 You may review this document, as well as all other Department of Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the World Wide Web at either of the following sites: http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm 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 (GPO) at (202) 512-1530 or, toll free at 1-888-293- 6498. Note: The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available on GPO access at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html 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: May 20, 1999. Judith E. Heumann, Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. [FR Doc. 99-13851 Filed 5-28-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-U