[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 158 (Wednesday, August 15, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42864-42865]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-20510]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Announcement of National Listening Session on Community-Based 
Alternatives for Individuals With Disabilities

    The Department of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with 
the Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Labor, Education, 
Justice and the Social Security Administration, is hosting a National 
Listening Session on Community-Based Alternatives for People with 
Disabilities to provide an opportunity for public input into each 
agency's evaluation being conducted under President Bush's Executive 
Order 13217 on Community-Based Alternatives for People with 
Disabilities.
    Executive Order 13217, signed June 18, 2001, calls upon the federal 
government to assist states and localities to swiftly implement the 
decision of the United States Supreme Court in Olmstead v. L.C. and 
directs the above-named federal agencies to review and evaluate their 
policies, programs, statutes and regulations to determine whether any 
should be revised or modified to improve the availability of community-
based services for individuals with disabilities. The evaluations must 
focus on identifying affected populations, improving the flow of 
information about supports in the community, and removing barriers that 
impede community placement. The evaluations also must ensure the 
involvement of consumers, advocacy organizations, providers, and 
relevant agency representatives. The results of the evaluations must be 
reported, through the Department of Health and Human Services, to the 
President by October 16, 2001.
    The National Listening Session on Community-Based Alternatives for 
People with Disabilities will be held on September 5, 2001 from 9:30 
a.m. to

[[Page 42865]]

5:00 p.m. in the Atrium Ballroom of the Ronald Reagan Building and 
International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, 
D.C. Participants are encouraged to arrive early (no later than 9:15 
am).
    Information about registration and registration forms are available 
on line at http://www.hrsnt.com/meeting/newfreedom or call Martrell 
Kelly at (202) 828-5100. To request a scheduled time slot of up to 
three minutes to provide testimony during the listening session, 
register by August 22, 2001. Scheduled time slots will be allocated to 
ensure representation from a range of stakeholder groups and persons 
with disabilities and will be filled on a first come, first serve 
basis. Notification of scheduled time slots will be made approximately 
two weeks prior to the meeting. In addition to scheduled time slots for 
testimony, time has been allotted to take public testimony from open 
microphones at sessions throughout the day. If you are not requesting a 
scheduled time slot, please submit your registration by August 31, 
2001. There are limited funds available to help consumers with travel 
expenses. To request travel assistance, contact Martrell Kelly at (202) 
828-5100 by August 22, 2001.
    Purpose: To provide an opportunity for consumers, advocacy 
organizations, providers and other relevant agency representatives to 
provide input into federal agency self-evaluations under Executive 
Order 13217.
    Date and Time: September 5, 2001, 9:30 am-5 pm est.
    Matters to be Discussed: The agenda will include opening remarks by 
federal officials, public testimony during scheduled time slots and 
opportunity for public comment at open microphones.
    The public is invited to provide testimony and comment on issues 
relevant to agency self-evaluations under Executive Order 13217 such 
as: identification of barriers in federal law, policy and programs that 
limit the ability of people of any age who have a disability or chronic 
illness to live in the community; actions that each of the designated 
agencies can take to address those barriers, improve the flow of 
information about community supports or aid in fulfillment of the 
Americans with Disabilities Act; and how federal programs can work 
together in support of enabling an individual with a disability to 
participate fully in the social and economic life of the community 
(e.g., health coverage, mental health services, social services, 
affordable and accessible housing, employment, caregiver support, and 
other services).

    Dated: August 10, 2001.
Claude A. Allen,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-20510 Filed 8-10-01; 2:43 pm]
BILLING CODE 4153-01-P