[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]]

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Part VII





Department of Education





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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  

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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.

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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

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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