[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 11 (Thursday, January 16, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2404-2406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-1016]



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Part II





Department of Education





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Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; National 
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research--Disability 
Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program; Notice of Final 
Priority and Notice Inviting Applications for Fiscal Year (FY) 2003; 
Notices

  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 11 / Thursday, January 16, 2003 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program; 
Notice of Final Priority

AGENCY: National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research 
(NIDRR), Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, 
Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of final priority.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services announces a final priority on Capacity 
Building, Coordination, and Collaboration projects under the Disability 
and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program of the National 
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). The 
Assistant Secretary may use this priority for competitions in fiscal 
year 2003 (FY) and later years. 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 from traditionally underserved racial and ethnic 
populations.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This priority is effective February 18, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3412, Switzer Building, 
Washington, DC 20202-2645. 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:

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 to 
maximize the full inclusion and integration of individuals with 
disabilities into society and to improve the effectiveness of services 
authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (the Act).

Section 21

    Section 21(b)(2)(A) of the Act authorizes NIDRR to make awards to 
minority entities and Indian tribes to carry out activities authorized 
under title II of the Act. A minority entity is 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, as 
amended), 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 is limited to 
minority entities and Indian tribes.

New Freedom Initiative and the NIDRR Long-Range Plan

    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.gov/offices/OSERS/NIDRR/Products.
    Through the implementation of the NFI and the Plan, NIDRR seeks to: 
(1) Improve the quality and utility of disability and rehabilitation 
research; (2) foster an exchange of expertise, information, and 
training to facilitate the advancement of knowledge and understanding 
of the unique needs of traditionally underserved populations; (3) 
determine best strategies and programs to improve rehabilitation 
outcomes for underserved populations; (4) identify research gaps; (5) 
identify mechanisms of integrating research and practice; and (6) 
disseminate findings.

Analysis of Comments and Changes

    There are no differences between the notice of proposed priority 
(NPP) and this notice of final priority (NFP).
    In response to our invitation in the NPP, three parties submitted 
comments on the proposed priority. An analysis of the comments and of 
any changes in the priorities since publication of the NPP follows.
    Comment: One commenter suggested that issues of minority-focused 
capacity building and rehabilitation research should be a shared 
responsibility across all NIDRR funded projects and activities. The 
commenter communicated that a more equitable sharing of this 
responsibility will improve research outcomes and provide greater 
educational opportunities for qualified minority students. It was 
further suggested that a collaborative model proposed under the 
priority for addressing underserved populations might be more effective 
if research area four of the priority was made mandatory or the wording 
in the first bullet following the proposed priorities was revised to 
identify non-minority institutions specifically.
    Discussion: NIDRR continues to encourage collaboration between 
minority and non-minority entities across the NIDRR research agenda. 
The suggested activities specified in the published priority emphasize 
the need for applicants to propose and establish collaborative efforts 
with minority and non-minority entities, especially partnerships among 
minority entities and Indian Tribes for the purpose of capacity 
building, and particularly with a focus on establishing partnerships 
with non-minority entities. An applicant is required to demonstrate in 
its application for funding how it will address the requirement to 
collaborate. The peer review process will evaluate the merits of the 
proposed approach in establishing such collaborative efforts.
    Change: None.
    Comment: One commenter welcomed approaches that would improve the 
public rehabilitation system by increasing its capacity to address the 
needs of all individuals with disabilities. The commenter suggested 
that the availability of such approaches could assist in identifying 
staff training needs and strategies for use in responding to these 
needs.
    Discussion: NIDRR intends that the proposed priority recognizes the 
need for research focused on achieving improved understanding of the 
needs of all individuals with disabilities, including individuals from 
diverse racial and ethnic groups, cultures, and backgrounds. This DRRP 
is being established for the purpose of fostering activities that will 
improve service delivery, the availability of appropriate support 
systems, training and dissemination of research information, and 
facilitating collaborative partnerships that can ensure and enhance 
capacity to address the needs of all individuals with disabilities.
    Changes: None.
    Comment: One commenter noted that drug and alcohol abuse, as well 
as mental health issues, affect the Native American population 
disproportionately in comparison to the non-Native population. It was 
also suggested that when this factor is compounded with the special 
issues of disability and the unavailability of local services, the 
problem becomes severe. The commenter noted that increased assistance 
is needed by way of services, input from the individual and tribe, 
discussions by all parties involved, communication, and oversight.

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    Discussion: The published priority does not preclude applicants 
from investigating, evaluating, and demonstrating strategies that are 
consistent with the suggestions of the commenter. The peer review 
process will enable the merits of strategies proposed in an application 
to be evaluated.
    Change: None.
    The background for the priority was published in the NPP.

    Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in 
which we choose to use this 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

    This priority is intended to improve the quality and utility of 
research related to individuals with disabilities from traditionally 
underserved racial and ethnic populations and to enhance knowledge and 
awareness of issues related to these populations. The priority will 
achieve this goal by (1) building the capacity of researchers, 
especially individuals from traditionally underserved racial and ethnic 
populations, and (2) conducting disability research that examines the 
unique needs and factors that influence rehabilitation outcomes for 
individuals with disabilities from traditionally underserved racial and 
ethnic populations.
    Applicants must choose a minimum of three and up to a maximum of 
five research areas below. Due to the need to focus research and 
capacity-building activities on specific groups or topics, applicants 
may target those populations appropriate to the activities that they 
propose.
    The DRRP research and capacity-building areas are:
    (1) To investigate and evaluate disability and rehabilitation 
outcomes for individuals with disabilities from traditionally 
underserved racial and ethnic populations in State vocational 
rehabilitation systems (VR), and assess between State and within State 
differences in outcomes.
    (2) To investigate and evaluate access to and acceptance rates for 
VR services, types of services provided, and costs of rehabilitation 
services for individuals with disabilities from traditionally 
underserved racial and ethnic populations compared to non-minority 
individuals.
    (3) To investigate, evaluate, and develop, as needed, indices and 
measures to assess the capacity of the disability and VR personnel 
workforce to provide quality services to individuals with disabilities 
from traditionally underserved racial and ethnic populations.
    (4) To investigate, evaluate, and report activities that strengthen 
disability-related research collaboration between minority entities and 
non-minority entities, particularly collaboration to improve 
rehabilitation services and outcomes for traditionally underserved 
racial and ethnic populations.
    (5) To investigate, develop as needed, and evaluate strategies for 
strengthening resources and research capacity of minority entities and 
Indian tribes, particularly the expertise and infrastructure 
requirements that are needed to ensure the optimal participation of 
minority entities and Indian tribes in disability and rehabilitation 
research.
    (6) To investigate, develop, and evaluate strategies, such as 
cultural competency training, targeted recruitment efforts, and 
incentives, to include and enhance retention of students and 
investigators from traditionally underserved racial and ethnic 
populations as rehabilitation researchers, administrators, and 
educators.
    (7) To investigate and evaluate the effect of persons from 
traditionally underserved racial and ethnic populations participating 
in disability and rehabilitation research activities, direct service 
delivery, and training programs, and determine to what extent 
participation assists to improve VR outcomes for underserved 
populations.
    The DRRP project will provide information leading to better 
understanding of: (1) Factors that contribute to different VR outcomes 
for traditionally underserved racial and ethnic populations compared to 
non-minorities, (2) training needs and effective training strategies, 
(3) effective approaches for improving collaboration between minority 
entities and Indian tribes and other institutions, and (4) strategies 
that strengthen the research infrastructure and capacity-building for 
minority entities and Indian tribes.
    In carrying out the purposes of the priority, the DRRP must:
    [sbull] Through consultation with the NIDRR project officer, 
coordinate and establish partnerships, as appropriate, with other 
academic institutions and organizations that are relevant to the 
project's proposed activities, including minority entities and Indian 
tribes;
    [sbull] Demonstrate use of culturally appropriate data collection, 
evaluation, dissemination, training, and research methodologies and 
significant knowledge of the needs of individuals with disabilities 
from traditionally underserved populations;
    [sbull] Develop, implement, and evaluate dissemination strategies 
for research and capacity-building products developed by the project;
    [sbull] Demonstrate appropriate multidisciplinary linkages;
    [sbull] Develop and regularly update an online information 
dissemination system and make materials readily available in alternate 
formats;
    [sbull] Conduct an annual evaluation of all activities undertaken 
in support of capacity-building using formal measures and indicators;
    [sbull] Provide expertise, consultation, and technical assistance 
on capacity-building and cultural competence to individuals and 
organizations seeking information; and
    [sbull] Ensure an interdisciplinary outreach effort in conducting 
research and capacity-building activities.

Intergovernmental Review

    This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372 and the 
regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    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: 
http://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

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

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

    Dated: January 13, 2003.
Robert H. Pasternack,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 03-1016 Filed 1-15-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P