[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 80 (Friday, April 25, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20384-20385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10201]



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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Interagency Working Group on Assistive Technology Mobility 
Devices

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

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

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SUMMARY: On February 12, 2003, President George W. Bush signed an 
Executive Memorandum establishing the Interagency Working Group on 
Assistive Technology Mobility Devices. For definitional purposes in 
this Executive Memorandum, ``Assistive Technology Mobility Devices'' 
are limited to classification code `F Mobility 502 Wheelchair,' of the 
`National Classification System for Assistive Technology Devices and 
Services.' This includes: attendant-controlled wheelchairs, manual 
wheelchairs (rear or front wheel drive), lever-driven wheelchairs, 
single side-driven non-powered wheelchairs, foot driven wheelchairs, 
electric powered wheelchairs, combustion powered wheelchairs, travel 
wheelchairs and scooters, sport wheelchairs, standing wheelchairs, and 
wheelchair accessories (classification codes 502.1 through 502.12, 
subject to exclusions).
    This working group is charged with: (a) Identifying existing 
Federal Government programs and resources that are designed to help 
individuals with disabilities obtain the assistive technology mobility 
devices that they need for education and employment; and (b) working 
with State, local, and tribal governments, as appropriate, to identify 
State, local, and tribal programs that are designed to help individuals 
with disabilities obtain assistive technology mobility devices for 
education and employment. As a result of the Working Group's work, a 
report will be presented to the President including the specific steps 
that each of the agencies represented on the Working Group will take 
to: (a) Improve coordination among their existing programs; (b) train 
vocational rehabilitation counselors, other service providers, and 
individuals with disabilities, as provided by law; and (c) inform 
individuals with disabilities about these opportunities. The report 
shall also include a description of how individuals with disabilities 
can pool funding from existing resources to obtain the assistive 
technology mobility devices that they need to pursue their educational 
and employment goals.
    The Secretary of Education is Chair of the Working Group. The 
Secretary announces a public forum and invites written comments with 
respect to the above provisions of the Executive Memorandum. Agency 
representatives from the Departments of Education, Health and Human 
Services, Labor, and Veterans Affairs and the Social Security 
Administration along with representatives from other federal agencies 
will be present to hear your comments.
    During the public meeting and through the submission of written 
comments, we encourage individuals with disabilities, particularly 
individuals and persons who represent service providers, assistive 
technology research and policy, and service provider organizations, and 
representatives of advocacy organizations with specialized knowledge 
and experience, to suggest specific ways to improve existing funding 
sources for individuals with disabilities. We are also interested in 
hearing from individuals concerning how well the existing federal 
programs and resources are coordinating assistive technology services 
for individuals with disabilities--especially any barriers that they 
suggest interfere with an individual's option of pooling funding to 
obtain the assistive technology mobility devices they need to pursue 
their educational and employment goals. If you have any suggestions or 
recommendations on how to improve the existing structure, such as 
specific regulatory change, method to improve coordination or issuance 
of policy guidance to key service providers, we are particularly 
interested in these issues. Your information will be used by this 
Working Group in our deliberations; however, we will not respond 
individually to your comments.

Public Forum

    We will hold a public forum on May 21, 2003, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
ET at the U.S. Department of Education, Barnhard Auditorium, 400 
Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC.
    Participants: Individuals who wish to present comments at the 
public forum must reserve time on the agenda by contacting the 
individual 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 forum, reservations 
for presenting comments should be made as soon as possible.
    Participants will be allowed approximately 5 minutes to present 
their comments, depending upon the number of individuals who reserve 
time on the agenda. At the forum, participants also are strongly 
encouraged to submit two written copies of their comments, and other 
written or emailed information such as agency or organization policy 
statements, recommendations, research findings and research literature.
    Reservations and Additional Meeting Information: All individuals 
attending the public forum, including those presenting comments, must 
make reservations by May 16, 2003 by contacting: Loretta Petty Chittum, 
Chair, Assistive Technology Mobility Devices Working Group, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 3006, Switzer Building, 
Washington, DC 20202, FAX: (202) 205-9252, PHONE: (202) 205-5465, E-
MAIL: [email protected]. If time permits, individuals who have not 
registered may be allowed to make comments.
    In addition to making reservations, individuals attending the 
public forum, 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 Forum

    The meeting room and proceedings will be accessible to individuals 
with disabilities. In addition, when making reservations, anyone 
presenting comments at or attending the forum who needs special 
accommodations, such as sign language interpreters, Brailled materials, 
and communications 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 scheduling 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 Comments

    In addition to soliciting input during the public forum, we invite 
the public to submit written or electronically mailed comments on how 
well the existing federal programs and resources are serving 
individuals with disabilities--especially any barriers they suggest 
interfere with an individual's option of pooling funding to obtain the 
assistive technology mobility devices they need to pursue their 
educational and employment goals. If you have any suggestions or 
recommendations on

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how to improve the existing structure, such as regulatory change, 
suggestions to improve interagency coordination, or policy guidance, we 
are particularly interested in these issues.

DATES: We request your written and email comments to be provided no 
later than June 1, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Submit all comments to: Loretta Petty Chittum, Chair, 
Assistive Technology Mobility Devices Working Group, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, 400 
Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 3006, Switzer Building, Washington, DC 
20202, FAX: (202) 205-9252, PHONE: (202) 205-5465, E-MAIL: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Loretta Petty Chittum, Chair, 
Assistive Technology Mobility Devices Working Group, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, 400 
Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 3006, Switzer Building, Washington, DC 
20202, FAX: (202) 205-9252, PHONE: (202) 205-5465, E-MAIL: 
[email protected]. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf, 
you may call (202) 205-5637 and select ``public comments''.
    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 Executive Memorandum: You may obtain 
an electronic copy of the Executive Memorandum on the Internet at the 
following site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/02/20030212-12.html.
    Availability of Copies of the National Classification System for 
Assistive Technology Devices and Services: You may obtain an electronic 
copy of this document on the Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/NIDRR/Products/National_Classification_System.doc.

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: 
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 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.


Robert H. Pasternack,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 03-10201 Filed 4-24-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-M