[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 52 (Monday, March 18, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12001-12003]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6536]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Implementation of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as Amended

AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, 
Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of public meetings and request for written comments.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary announces a series of public meetings 
and invites written comments on the programs administered by the Office 
of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) under the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (the Act). During the public 
meetings and through the submission of written comments, we encourage 
individuals to comment on how well the objectives of the Act are being 
accomplished and on any barriers to the effective implementation of the 
Act. The purpose of these meetings and solicitation of written comments 
is to provide feedback to OSERS about the implementation of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

Public Meetings

DATES, TIMES, AND ADDRESSES: We will hold public meetings according to 
the following schedule:
    1. Date: March 19, 2002, Time: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Location: 
Metropolitan Hotel, Lexington Avenue and 51st Street, New York City, 
NY.
    2. Date: March 21, 2002, Time: 12:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Location: 
Atlanta Marriott Marquis, 265 Peachtree Center Avenue, Atlanta, GA.
    3. Date: March 25, 2002, Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Location: Holiday 
Inn O'Hare, 5440 North River Road, Rosemont, IL.
    4. Date: April 18, 2002, Time: 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Location: 
Elihu Harris State Office Building, 1st Floor Auditorium, 1515 Clay 
Street, Oakland, CA.
    5. Date: May 9, 2002, Time: 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Location: Bachman 
Therapeutic Recreation Center, 2750 Bachman Drive, Dallas, Texas.
    6. Date: June 19, 2002, Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Location: U.S. 
Department of Education, Barnard Auditorium, 400 Maryland Ave, SW., 
Washington, DC.
    Participants: Those who wish to present comments on the 
implementation of the Act at one of the public meetings must reserve 
time on the agenda for that meeting by contacting the individuals 
identified under RESERVATIONS AND ADDITIONAL MEETING INFORMATION. 
Reservations for presenting comments will be accepted on a first-come, 
first-served basis. Given the expected number of individuals interested 
in providing comments at the meetings, reservations for presenting 
comments should be made as soon as possible.
    Participants will be allowed approximately 5 to 7 minutes to 
present their comments, depending upon the number of individuals who 
reserve time on the agenda. At the meeting, participants also are 
encouraged to submit two written copies of their comments. RESERVATIONS 
AND ADDITIONAL MEETING INFORMATION: All individuals attending the 
public meetings, including those presenting comments, must make 
reservations by contacting the following individuals:
    New York: Richard Anderson, U.S. Department of Education, 
Rehabilitation Services Administration, Region II, c/o NYC Board of 
Education, 65 Court Street, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201; (voice) 
(718) 935-5650; (fax) (718) 935-5584; (Federal Information Relay

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Service) 1-800-877-8339; (e-mail) [email protected].
    Atlanta: Diane McCuen, Assistant Regional Commissioner, U.S. 
Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, Region 
IV, 61 Forsyth Street, Atlanta, GA 30303; (voice) (404) 562-6330; (fax) 
(404) 562-6346; (TTY) (404) 562-6347; (e-mail) [email protected].
    Chicago: Kathleen Niemi, U.S. Department of Education, 
Rehabilitation Services Administration, 111 North Canal Street, Suite 
1048, Chicago, IL 60606-7204; (voice) (312) 886-8623; (fax) (312) 353-
8623; (Federal Information Relay Service) 1-800-877-8339; (e-mail) 
[email protected].
    Oakland: Gilbert ``Doc'' Williams, Regional Commissioner, U.S. 
Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, Region 
IX, 50 United Nations Plaza, San Francisco, CA 94102-4987; (voice) 
(415) 556-4070; (fax) (415) 437-7848; (TTY) (415) 437-7845; (e-mail) 
[email protected].
    Dallas: Michael Evans, U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation 
Services Administration, Region VI, 1999 Bryan Street, Dallas, TX 
75201-6817; (voice) (214) 880-4927; (fax) (214) 880-4931; (TTY) (214) 
880-4933; (e-mail) [email protected].
    Washington, DC: Tammy Nelson, U.S. Department of Education, 
Rehabilitation Services Administration, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 
3214, Mary E. Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2531; (voice) 
(202) 205-9005; (fax) (202) 260-7527; (TTY) (202) 205-5538; (e-mail) 
[email protected].
    In addition to making reservations, individuals attending any of 
the public meetings, for security purposes, must be prepared to show 
photo identification in order to enter the meeting location.

Assistance to Individuals With Disabilities at the Public Meetings

    The meeting rooms and proceedings will be accessible to individuals 
with disabilities. In addition, when making reservations, anyone 
presenting comments at or attending a meeting who needs special 
accommodations, such as sign language interpreters, Braille materials, 
and communication access real-time transcription, should inform the 
previously listed individual of his or her specific accessibility 
needs. You should make requests for accommodations at least 10 working 
days prior to the scheduled meeting date. Although we will attempt to 
meet a request we receive after that date, we may not be able to make 
available the requested auxiliary aid or service because of 
insufficient time to arrange it.

Request for Written Comments

    In addition to soliciting input during the public meetings, we 
invite the public to submit written comments on the Act to assist OSERS 
in identifying issues relating to the effective implementation of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

DATES: We would like to receive your written comments on the Act by 
June 30, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Submit all comments to Joanne Wilson, Commissioner, 
Rehabilitation Services Administration, using one of the following 
methods:
    1. Internet. We encourage you to send your comments through the 
Internet to the following address: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/RSA/Policy/Legislation/rehabact_comments.html.
    2. Mail. You may submit your comments to Commissioner Wilson at 
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3028 Mary 
E. Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2531.
    3. Facsimile. You may submit comments by facsimile at (202) 205-
9252 (main OSERS fax).

Written and Public Comments

    Participants in the public meetings and individuals submitting 
written comments to OSERS are encouraged to comment on any of the 
provisions of the Act--titles I, II, III, VI, VII, and section 509--for 
which OSERS is responsible. We are particularly interested in comments 
from persons with disabilities, their family members and advocates, and 
those entities and individuals serving persons with disabilities under 
the Act.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beverlee Stafford, U.S. Department of 
Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, 400 Maryland Avenue, 
SW., room 3213, Mary E. Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2550. 
Telephone (202) 205-8831 or via Internet: [email protected]. If 
you use a telecommunications device for the deaf, you may call (202) 
205-5538.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of this notice in 
an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or 
computer diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the 
previous paragraph.
    Availability of Copies of the Act: You may obtain an electronic 
copy of the Act on the Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/RSA/Policy/Legislation/rehabact.doc.
    We encourage individuals who need copies of the Act to obtain 
copies via the Internet. However, for those individuals who are unable 
to access the Internet and are attending one of the public meetings, 
copies of the Act are available by contacting the appropriate 
individual identified under RESERVATIONS AND ADDITIONAL MEETING 
INFORMATION. Other individuals who are unable to access the Internet 
may obtain a copy of the Act by calling (202) 205-8299.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the Act in an 
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) on request to the contact number listed in the previous 
paragraph.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Background and Description of the Act

    The Act (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.) was reauthorized on August 7, 1998, 
as title IV of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Pub. L. 105-220. 
Section 2 of the Act specifies that the purposes of the Act are to--
     Empower individuals with disabilities to maximize 
employment, economic self-sufficiency, independence, and inclusion and 
integration into society, through--statewide workforce investment 
systems (under title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998) that 
include, as integral components, comprehensive and coordinated state-
of-the-art programs of vocational rehabilitation; independent living 
centers and services; research; training; demonstration projects; and 
the guarantee of equal opportunity; and
     Ensure that the Federal Government plays a leadership role 
in promoting the employment of individuals with disabilities, 
especially individuals with significant disabilities, and in assisting 
States and providers of services in fulfilling the aspirations of those 
individuals with disabilities for meaningful and gainful employment and 
independent living.
    The Act includes the following seven titles:
    Title I of the Act establishes the State Vocational Rehabilitation 
Services Program, which supports the Federal-State partnership for 
providing vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with 
disabilities seeking to achieve employment in the integrated labor 
market. The Act requires that, in the event services cannot be provided 
to all eligible individuals with disabilities who apply, States must 
give priority to individuals with the most significant disabilities. 
Each State is required to determine which individuals are ``individuals 
with the most significant disabilities'' and, therefore, given a 
priority for services in that State.

[[Page 12003]]

    Additionally, each State vocational rehabilitation agency that is 
not a consumer-controlled independent commission primarily concerned 
with rehabilitation is also required to establish a State 
Rehabilitation Council (SRC) to review, analyze, and advise the 
vocational rehabilitation agency regarding the performance of its 
responsibilities under the Act and to work in partnership with the 
vocational rehabilitation agency in, among other things, developing the 
vocational rehabilitation agency's goals and priorities and evaluating 
the effectiveness of the vocational rehabilitation program. Given the 
composition requirements of the SRC, the SRC ensures that individuals 
with disabilities and other stakeholders have input in the vocational 
rehabilitation agency's policies and practices.
    Title I of the Act also includes the authorization for the Client 
Assistance Program and the American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation 
Services Program. The American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation 
Services Program provides discretionary grants to governing bodies of 
Indian Tribes to establish projects that serve American Indians with 
disabilities on or near reservations. The Client Assistance Program 
provides formula grants to States for information, referral, advice, 
and advocacy services to individuals with disabilities who are applying 
for or receiving services funded under the Act.
    Title II of the Act establishes NIDRR and authorizes research and 
related activities. NIDRR administers a program of rehabilitation 
research, including rehabilitation research and training centers, 
rehabilitation engineering research centers, research and demonstration 
projects, field-initiated projects, utilization and dissemination 
projects, fellowships, and research training grants.
    Title III authorizes personnel training programs and service 
projects. Training grants are authorized to assist in increasing the 
number and skills of qualified personnel who provide services to 
individuals with disabilities. The training program supports pre-
service training at degree-granting institutions, experimental and 
innovative training, continuing education programs, in-service training 
for personnel of State vocational rehabilitation agencies, and training 
of interpreters for individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and 
individuals who are deaf-blind.
    Title III also authorizes projects for migrants and seasonal 
farmworkers, recreational programs for individuals with disabilities, 
parent training, client choice demonstrations, and special 
demonstration programs.
    Title IV of the Act establishes the National Council on Disability. 
The National Council on Disability is an independent Federal agency 
whose duties include providing advice to Congress and the President on 
the development of programs under the Act and reviewing and evaluating, 
on a continuing basis, all policies and programs for individuals with 
disabilities conducted or assisted by the Federal Government.
    Section 509 authorizes the Protection and Advocacy of Individual 
Rights Program, which supports a system in each State to protect the 
human and legal rights of individuals with disabilities who need 
services that are beyond the scope of the Client Assistance Program and 
who are not eligible for services from other protection and advocacy 
programs.
    Title VI of the Act authorizes the Projects With Industry and 
Supported Employment State Grants programs. The primary goal of the 
discretionary Projects With Industry grant program is to expand job 
opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the competitive 
labor market. In order to develop a partnership between business, 
industry, labor, and the rehabilitation community, each project is 
required to have a Business Advisory Council to provide advice on 
available jobs and training requirements.
    Supported Employment State Grants is a formula grant program to 
assist States in developing collaborative programs with public agencies 
and nonprofit organizations to provide training and other services 
leading to supported employment for individuals with the most 
significant disabilities.
    Title VII of the Act authorizes funding in Chapter 1 for 
comprehensive services for independent living and independent living 
centers, and in Chapter 2 for independent living services for older 
persons who are blind or have a significant visual impairment. Each 
State must establish a State Independent Living Council that jointly 
prepares and submits the required State plan for Chapter 1 independent 
living services and the State's network of centers for independent 
living.

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 the following site: 
www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister.
    To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available 
free at this site. 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. 701, et seq.

    Dated: March 14, 2002.
Loretta L. Petty,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and, Rehabilitative 
Services.
[FR Doc. 02-6536 Filed 3-15-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-U