[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 241 (Thursday, December 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78147-78148]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-31809]



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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No.: 84.235N]


Special Demonstration Programs; Notice Inviting Applications for 
New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2001

    Purpose of Program: To provide financial assistance to support 
projects or programs that expand and improve the provision of 
rehabilitation and other services for individuals with disabilities, 
including technical assistance that meets the needs of underserved 
populations.
    For FY 2001 this competition focuses on projects designed to meet 
the priorities we describe in the PRIORITIES section of this 
application notice. This competition provides funds for a Technical 
Assistance Center focusing on Latinos and Hispanics with Disabilities 
and a Technical Assistance Center focusing on Asian Americans and 
Pacific Islanders with Disabilities.
    Eligible Applicants: State vocational rehabilitation agencies; 
community rehabilitation programs; Indian tribes or tribal 
organizations; and public or nonprofit agencies or organizations, 
including institutions of higher education.
    Applications Available: December 21, 2000.
    Deadline For Transmittal of Applications: February 20, 2001.
    Deadline For Intergovernmental Review: April 21, 2001.
    Estimated Available Funds: $1,000,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $400,000 to $500,000 per year per 
Center.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 2.
    Reasonable Accommodations: We will consider, and may fund, requests 
for additional funding as an addendum to an application to reflect the 
costs of reasonable accommodations necessary to allow individuals with 
disabilities to be employed on the project as personnel on project 
activities.


    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice.

    Project Period: Up to 60 months. The Assistant Secretary believes 
that a period of at least 36 months is necessary to accomplish the 
project objectives. The Assistant Secretary will assess, during the 
third year of the project period, whether there is a continuing need 
for the project and whether to provide funding beyond 36 months.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 85, 86, 97, and 99; and (b) The regulations for this program in 
34 CFR part 373.

Priority

Background

    Many individuals with disabilities, including Latinos, Hispanics, 
Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders, have difficulty accessing 
rehabilitation services and employment opportunities due to existing 
language, cultural, socio-economic, and other barriers. In particular, 
the unique characteristics of immigrant subpopulations living in urban 
and rural areas support the need for culturally appropriate technical 
assistance regarding civil rights, education and employment 
opportunities, and disability-related services. That technical 
assistance will assist Latinos and Hispanics with disabilities, Asian 
Americans and Pacific Islanders with disabilities, and other 
individuals with disabilities and their families, rehabilitation 
agencies, local educational agencies, higher education institutions, 
independent living centers, parent training information centers, and 
employers to gain access to appropriate services and information in 
order to improve community integration, independent living, and 
employment outcomes.

Priorities

    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) and section 303(b)(4)(C) and (5)(B)(vi) 
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the Assistant Secretary 
gives an absolute preference to applications that meet one of the 
following priorities. The Assistant Secretary funds only applications 
that meet one of the absolute priorities.
    The projects must create a National Technical Assistance Center 
that would provide culturally appropriate technical assistance to 
organizations, State vocational rehabilitation agencies, other service 
agencies, individuals, and families focusing on increasing employment 
opportunities, vocational, educational, and independent living outcomes 
for Latinos and Hispanics with disabilities or Asian Americans and 
Pacific Islanders with disabilities.
    Priority 1: Creating a National Technical Assistance Center for 
Individuals with Disabilities focusing on Latinos and Hispanics with 
Disabilities.
    Priority 2: Creating a National Technical Assistance Center for 
Individuals with Disabilities Focusing on Asian Americans and Pacific 
Islanders with Disabilities.

Allowable Activities

    Activities that may be supported under this competition include, 
but are not limited to--
     Providing information to employers and industry, small 
business administrations, and chambers of commerce;
     Providing culturally and linguistically relevant training 
on the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, sections 504 
and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the Individuals 
with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and other civil rights 
legislation focused on Latinos and Hispanics with disabilities, Asian 
Americans and Pacific Islanders with disabilities, and other 
individuals with disabilities who wish to use the training.
     Identifying solutions related to the barriers to obtaining 
employment, educational and independent living opportunities for 
individuals with disabilities focusing on Latinos and Hispanics with 
disabilities and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with 
disabilities;
     Providing educational and vocational outreach to Latinos 
and Hispanics with disabilities, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders 
with disabilities, other individuals with disabilities, including 
migrant and seasonal farmworkers, and their families through key 
organizations and agencies;
     Assisting organizations, families, higher education, and 
individuals with disabilities to better understand other issues 
relevant to these populations, including, but not limited to, housing, 
transportation, assistive technology, independent living, long-term 
care, and Federal statutes such as the Workforce Investment Act, the 
Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Act, and the Individuals with 
Disabilities Education Act.
    Selection Criteria: In evaluating an application for a new grant 
under this competition, we use selection criteria chosen from the 
general selection criteria in 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR. The selection 
criteria to be used for this competition will be provided in the 
application package for this competition.
    For Applications Contact: Education Publications Center (ED Pubs), 
P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398. Telephone (toll free): 1-877-433-
7827. FAX: (301) 470-1244. If you use a telecommunications device for 
the deaf (TDD), you may call (toll free): 1-877-576-7734
    You may also contact ED Pubs at its Web site: http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html
    Or you may contact ED Pubs at its e-mail address: 
[email protected].
    If you request an application from ED pubs, be sure to identify 
this

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competition as follows: CFDA number 84.235N.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application 
package in an alternative format by contacting the Grants and Contracts 
Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., 
room 3317, Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: 
(202) 205-8351. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf 
(TDD), you may call the Federal Information Relay Services (FIRS) at 1-
800-877-8339. However, the Department is not able to reproduce in an 
alternative format the standard forms included in the application 
package.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas E. Finch, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3314, Switzer Building, 
Washington, DC. 20202-2650. Telephone: (202) 205-8292. If you use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the preceding 
paragraph.

Electronic Access to This Document

    You may view 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 Internet at either of the 
following sites: http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm, http://www.ed.gov/news.html.
    To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available 
free at either of the previous sites. If you have questions about using 
PDF, call the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-
888-293-6498; or in the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.

    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


    Program Authority:  29 U.S.C. 773(b).

    Dated: December 8, 2000.
Judith E. Heumann,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 00-31809 Filed 12-13-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P