[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 103 (Wednesday, May 29, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37648-37649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-13400]



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Part VII





Department of Education





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National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 103 / Wednesday, May 29, 2002 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed priority.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services proposes a priority for Developing Models To 
Promote the Use of NIDRR Research under the Disability and 
Rehabilitation Research (DRRP) Program of the National Institute on 
Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). The Assistant Secretary 
may use this priority for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2002. We 
take this action to focus research attention on an identified national 
need. We intend this priority to improve rehabilitation services and 
outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

DATES: We must receive your comments on or before June 28, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments about this proposed priority to Donna 
Nangle, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 
3412, Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2645. If you prefer to 
send your comments through the Internet, use the following address: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle. Telephone: (202) 205-
5880 or via the Internet: [email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the TDD number at (202) 205-4475.
    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 under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Invitation to Comment

    We invite you to submit comments regarding this proposed priority.
    We invite you to assist us in complying with the specific 
requirements of Executive Order 12866 and its overall requirement of 
reducing regulatory burden that might result from this proposed 
priority. Please let us know of any further opportunities we should 
take to reduce potential costs or increase potential benefits while 
preserving the effective and efficient administration of the program.
    During and after the comment period, you may inspect all public 
comments about this priority in room 3412, Switzer Building, 330 C 
Street, SW., Washington, DC, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 
p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday of each week except Federal 
holidays.

Assistance to Individuals With Disabilities in Reviewing the Rulemaking 
Record

    On request, we will supply an appropriate aid, such as a reader or 
print magnifier, to an individual with a disability who needs 
assistance to review the comments or other documents in the public 
rulemaking record for this proposed priority. If you want to schedule 
an appointment for this type of aid, please contact the person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program

    The purpose of the DRRP Program is to plan and conduct research, 
demonstration projects, training, and related activities that help (1) 
to maximize the full inclusion and integration of individuals with 
disabilities into society, and (2) to improve the effectiveness of 
services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended 
(the Act).
    This priority reflects issues discussed in the New Freedom 
Initiative (NFI) and NIDRR's Long-Range Plan (the Plan). The NFI can be 
accessed on the Internet at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/freedominitiative/freedominiative.html.
    The Plan can be accessed on the Internet at: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/NIDRR/Products.
    We will announce the final priority in a notice in the Federal 
Register. We will determine the final priority after considering 
responses to this notice and other information available to the 
Department. This notice does not preclude us from proposing or funding 
additional priorities, subject to meeting applicable rulemaking 
requirements.

    Note: This notice does not solicit applications. If we choose to 
use this proposed priority, we invite applications through a notice 
in the Federal Register. When inviting applications we designate the 
priority as absolute, competitive preference, or invitational. The 
effect of each type of priority follows:

Absolute Priority

    Under an absolute priority, we consider only applications that meet 
the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(3)).

Competitive Preference Priority

    Under a competitive preference priority, we give competitive 
preference to an application by either (1) awarding additional points, 
depending on how well or the extent to which the application meets the 
priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2) selecting an application that 
meets the priority over an application of comparable merit that does 
not meet the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(ii)).

Invitational Priority

    Under an invitational priority, we are particularly interested in 
applications that meet the invitational priority. However, we do not 
give an application that meets the priority a competitive or absolute 
preference over other applications (34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)).

Priority

Background

    NIDRR proposes to develop models to ensure that the findings of 
NIDRR-sponsored research and products have practical applications in 
activities related to serving individuals with disabilities. This 
proposed priority invites an examination of the ways in which NIDRR-
supported research findings can be of use to individuals with 
disabilities, researchers, and professionals, such as vocational 
rehabilitation counselors. The models to be developed under this 
proposed priority are to be based on NIDRR research topics related to 
the NFI and the Plan.
    The models would be used to help researchers plan for the 
widespread use of NIDRR research results and measure success. The 
models must be well documented so that they can be replicated by other 
grantees. The models will vary depending on the kind and level of 
information, the intended users of the information, and the 
circumstances available to disseminate the information.
    NIDRR emphasizes the participation of individuals with disabilities 
in the formulation and conduct of research studies. It also stresses 
that the ultimate purpose of NIDRR research is to further the NIDRR 
mission and increase the participation of individuals with disabilities 
in all aspects of education, employment, and community participation.
    You may obtain additional information about the background of this 
priority by contacting the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.

Proposed Priority--Developing Models To Promote the Use of NIDRR 
Research

    This proposed priority is intended to develop models for the 
increased and

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more effective use of NIDRR research results.
    To be funded under this priority a project would be required to--
    (1) Analyze research information produced by NIDRR grantees to 
determine the extent to which any of the information has not been 
disseminated or has been disseminated but not effectively used.
    (2) Develop models for particular kinds of information, such as 
engineering, health, employment, education, and independent living, and 
for particular intended groups such as professionals, individuals with 
disabilities, families, and researchers.
    (3) Describe the models and prepare training materials to assist 
others to use the models.
    (4) Test each model.
    (5) Evaluate the success of each model.
    In carrying out these activities, the project must:
    [sbull] Provide training for NIDRR research projects and centers;
    [sbull] Ensure the relevance of all activities to individuals with 
disabilities;
    [sbull] Include techniques to reach individuals from diverse 
racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds; and
    [sbull] Collaborate with NIDRR-funded projects and centers.

Applicable Program Regulations

    34 CFR part 350.

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 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.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.133A, Disability 
Rehabilitation Research Project)

    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(b).

    Dated: May 15, 2002.
Loretta L. Petty,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services.
[FR Doc. 02-13400 Filed 5-28-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P