[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 104 (Friday, May 28, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30804-30807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-12252]



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Part VII





Department of Education





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Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; National 
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)--Disability 
and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program--
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004; Notices

  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 104 / Friday, May 28, 2004 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

RIN 1820 ZA33


National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research--
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program--
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers

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

ACTION: Notice of final priority (NFP) for Rehabilitation Engineering 
Research Centers (RERC) program.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services announces a final priority under the National 
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) Disability 
and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program--
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) program for fiscal 
year (FY) 2004 and later years. We take this action to focus research 
attention on areas of national need. We intend this priority to improve 
the rehabilitation services and outcomes for individuals with 
disabilities.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This final priority is effective June 28, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of 
Education, 550 12th Street, SW., room 6046, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 245-7462 or via Internet: 
[email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the TDD number at (202) 245-7313.
    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:

Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers Program

    Under the RERC program, we may make awards for up to 60 months 
through grants or cooperative agreements to public and private agencies 
and organizations, including institutions of higher education, Indian 
tribes, and tribal organizations. This funding supports research, 
demonstration, and training activities regarding rehabilitation 
technology in order to enhance opportunities for meeting the needs of, 
and addressing the barriers confronted by, individuals with 
disabilities in all aspects of their lives. Each RERC must be operated 
by or in collaboration with an institution of higher education or a 
nonprofit organization. Additional information on the RERC program can 
be found at: http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/RERC.

General Requirements of Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers

    RERCs shall carry out research or demonstration activities in 
support of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, by--
     Developing and disseminating innovative methods of 
applying advanced technology, scientific achievement, and psychological 
and social knowledge to (1) solve rehabilitation problems and remove 
environmental barriers and (2) study and evaluate new or emerging 
technologies, products, or environments and their effectiveness and 
benefits;
     Demonstrating and disseminating (1) innovative models for 
the delivery of cost-effective rehabilitation technology services to 
rural and urban areas and (2) other scientific research to assist in 
meeting the employment and independent living needs of individuals with 
severe disabilities;
     Facilitating service delivery systems change through (1) 
the development, evaluation, and dissemination of consumer-responsive 
and individual and family-centered innovative models for the delivery 
to both rural and urban areas of innovative cost-effective 
rehabilitation technology services and (2) other scientific research to 
assist in meeting the employment and independence needs of individuals 
with severe disabilities; and
     Providing training opportunities, in conjunction with 
institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations, to assist 
individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to become 
rehabilitation technology researchers and practitioners.
    The Department is particularly interested in ensuring that the 
expenditure of public funds is justified by the execution of intended 
activities and the advancement of knowledge and, thus, has built this 
accountability into the selection criteria. During the funding cycle of 
any RERC, NIDRR will conduct one or more reviews of the activities and 
achievements of the RERC. In accordance with the provisions of 34 CFR 
75.253(a), continued funding depends at all times on satisfactory 
performance and accomplishment.
    We published a notice of proposed priority (NPP) for this program 
in the Federal Register on February 27, 2004 (69 FR 9307). The NPP 
included a background statement for this priority at 69 FR 9308. This 
NFP contains one change from the NPP. We discuss this change in the 
Analysis of Comments and Changes section published as an appendix to 
this notice.

    Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in 
which we choose to use this priority, we invite applications through 
a notice published 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 absolute 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 competitive priority (34 CFR 
75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2) selecting an application that meets the 
competitive 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 
invitational priority a competitive or absolute preference over other 
applications (34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)).

    Note: NIDRR supports the goals of President Bush's New Freedom 
Initiative (NFI). The NFI can be accessed on the Internet at the 
following site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/newfreedom/.

    This final priority is in concert with NIDRR's Long-Range Plan 
(Plan). The Plan is comprehensive and integrates many issues relating 
to disability and rehabilitation research topics. While applicants will 
find many sections throughout the Plan that support potential research 
to be conducted under this priority, a specific reference is included 
for each of the priority topics presented in this notice. The Plan can 
be accessed on the Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/index.html.
    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;

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(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.

Priority

    The Assistant Secretary announces a final priority for the funding 
of RERCs that will focus on innovative technological solutions; new 
knowledge; and concepts to promote the health, safety, independence, 
active engagement in daily activities, and quality of life of persons 
with disabilities. Applicants must select one of the following priority 
topic areas: (a) Universal Design and the Built Environment; (b) 
Telecommunications Access; (c) Telerehabilitation; and (d) Cognitive 
Technologies.
    Applicants are allowed to submit more than one proposal as long as 
each proposal addresses only one RERC topic area.
    Under each of the priority topics the RERC must--
    (1) Contribute substantially to the technical and scientific 
knowledge-base relevant to its respective subject area;
    (2) Research, develop, and evaluate innovative technologies, 
products, environments, performance guidelines, and monitoring and 
assessment tools as applicable to its respective subject area;
    (3) Identify, implement, and evaluate, in collaboration with the 
relevant industry, professional associations, and institutions of 
higher education, innovative approaches to expand research capacity in 
its respective field of study;
    (4) Monitor trends and evolving product concepts that represent and 
signify future directions for technologies in its respective area of 
research; and
    (5) Provide technical assistance to public and private 
organizations, persons with disabilities, and employers on policies, 
guidelines, and standards that affect its respective area of research.
    In addition, the following requirements apply to each of the 
priority topics:
     Each RERC must have the capability to design, build, and 
test prototype devices and assist in the transfer of successful 
solutions to relevant production and service delivery settings. Each 
RERC must evaluate the efficacy and safety of its new products, 
instrumentation, or assistive devices;
     Each RERC must develop and implement in the first three 
months of the grant a plan that describes how the center will include, 
as appropriate, individuals with disabilities or their representatives 
in all phases of center activities including research, development, 
training, dissemination, and evaluation;
     Each RERC must develop and implement in the first year of 
the grant, in consultation with the NIDRR-funded National Center for 
the Dissemination of Disability Research (NCDDR), a plan to disseminate 
the RERC's research results to persons with disabilities, their 
representatives, disability organizations, service providers, 
professional journals, manufacturers, employers, and other interested 
parties;
     Each RERC must develop and implement in the first year of 
the grant, in consultation with the NIDRR-funded RERC on Technology 
Transfer, a plan for ensuring that all new and improved technologies 
developed by this RERC are successfully transferred to the marketplace;
     Each RERC must conduct a state-of-the-science conference 
on its respective area of research in the third year of the grant and 
publish a comprehensive report on the final outcomes of the conference 
in the fourth year of the grant; and
     Each RERC must coordinate with research projects of mutual 
interest with relevant NIDRR-funded projects as identified through 
consultation with the NIDRR project officer.
    Each RERC must focus on one of the following priority topic areas:
    (a) Universal Design and the Built Environment: This RERC must 
research, develop, and evaluate strategies and devices that will 
advance the field of universal design and assist designers, builders, 
and manufacturers with incorporating universal design in their products 
and buildings. This RERC also must research, develop and evaluate 
methods and strategies that improve upon and expand current 
anthropometric data collection practices and databases, both static and 
dynamic (functional), pertaining to persons with disabilities. The 
reference for this topic can be found in the Plan, chapter 5, 
Technology for Access and Function: Systems Technology: Universal 
Design and Accessibility.
    (b) Telecommunications Access: This RERC must research and develop 
technological solutions to promote universal access to 
telecommunications systems and products including strategies for 
integrating current accessibility features into newer generations of 
telecommunications systems and products. The reference for this topic 
can be found in the Plan, chapter 5, Technology for Access and 
Function: Research to Improve Accessibility of Telecommunications and 
Information Technology.
    (c) Telerehabilitation: This RERC must research and develop 
methods, systems, and technologies that support remote delivery of 
rehabilitation and home health care services for individuals who have 
limited local access to comprehensive medical and rehabilitation 
outpatient services. The reference for this topic can be found in the 
Plan, chapter 5, Technology for Access and Function: Research to 
Improve Accessibility of Telecommunications and Information Technology.
    (d) Cognitive Technologies: This RERC must research, develop, and 
evaluate innovative technologies and approaches that will improve the 
ability of individuals with significant cognitive disabilities to 
function independently within their communities and workplaces. The 
reference for this topic can be found in the Plan, chapter 5, 
Technology for Access and Function: Research on Technology to Enhance 
Cognitive Function.

Executive Order 12866

    This notice of final priority has been reviewed in accordance with 
Executive Order 12866. Under the terms of the order, we have assessed 
the potential costs and benefits of this regulatory action.
    The potential costs associated with the notice of final priority 
are those resulting from statutory requirements and those we have 
determined as necessary for administering this program effectively and 
efficiently.
    In assessing the potential costs and benefits--both quantitative 
and qualitative--of this notice of final priority, we have determined 
that the benefits of the final priority justify the costs.
    Summary of potential costs and benefits: The potential costs 
associated with this final priority are minimal while the benefits are 
significant. Grantees may anticipate costs associated with completing 
the application process in terms of staff time, copying, and mailing or 
delivery. The use of e-Application technology reduces mailing and 
copying costs significantly.
    The benefits of the RERC program have been well established over 
the years. Similar projects have generated new knowledge and 
technologies.
    The benefit of this final priority will be the establishment of new 
RERCs, which can be expected to develop technological solutions that 
will improve the lives of persons with disabilities and to contribute 
substantially to the technical and scientific knowledge-base in the 
topic areas.

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    Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 350.

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/news/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.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.133E, Rehabilitation 
Engineering Research Centers Program)

    Program Authority:  29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(b)(3).

    Dated: May 26, 2004.
Troy R. Justesen,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services.

Appendix--Analysis of Comments and Changes

    In response to our invitation in the NPP, we received 10 
comments. An analysis of the comments and of the changes in the 
priority since publication of the NPP follows.
    Generally, we do not address technical and other minor changes 
and suggested changes we are not authorized to make under the 
applicable statutory authority.
    Comments: One commenter believes the target audience for the 
Universal Design and the Built Environment topic area should be 
expanded beyond architects and interior designers to include 
consumer product and package designers.
    Discussion: An applicant may propose activities that include 
consumer product and package designers. The peer review process will 
be used to evaluate the merits of the proposal. However, NIDRR has 
no basis for requiring that all applicants include consumer product 
and package designers in their activities.
    Changes: None.
    Comments: One commenter believes the Universal Design and the 
Built Environment topic area should require applicants to research, 
develop, and evaluate innovative ways to present anthropometric data 
so that designers are more likely to incorporate the information 
into their designs.
    Discussion: An applicant may propose activities that include 
innovative ways to present anthropometric data. The peer review 
process will evaluate the merits of the proposal. However, NIDRR has 
no basis for requiring that all applicants include these activities.
    Changes: None.
    Comments: One commenter states that persons with cognitive 
disabilities have been underserved by the universal design community 
and believes the Universal Design and the Built Environment topic 
area should require applicants to include the design needs of 
persons with cognitive disabilities in their research and 
development projects.
    Discussion: The general concept behind universal design is to 
design products and environments to be usable by all people, to the 
greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptations or 
special design. NIDRR expects this RERC to follow the Principles of 
Universal Design and to include as many populations as possible, 
including persons with cognitive disabilities in their research and 
development projects. NIDRR agrees with the commenter that the 
universal design community has been slow to include the design needs 
of persons with cognitive disabilities. However, NIDRR has no basis 
to require all applicants to identify persons with cognitive 
disabilities as a target population for their respective research 
and development projects. An applicant may propose this activity and 
the peer review process will be used to evaluate the merits of the 
proposal.
    Changes: None.
    Comments: One commenter asked for clarification regarding the 
Universal Design and the Built Environment topic area requirement to 
improve upon and expand current anthropometric data collection 
practices and databases. The commenter wanted to know whether NIDRR 
is simply looking to expand the database of reach ranges or whether 
it is interested in collecting other anthropometric data that can be 
used as a tool for designers of the built environment.
    Discussion: NIDRR believes that in addition to creating a 
database of reach ranges, there are many needs in the area of 
anthropometry for persons with disabilities. An applicant could 
propose activities that include collecting other types of 
anthropometric data that can be used by designers and architects. 
The peer review process will evaluate the merits of the proposal.
    Changes: None.
    Comments: Two commenters believe applicants responding to the 
Cognitive Technologies topic area should be required to consider 
incorporating the principles of universal design in their research 
and development projects.
    Discussion: An applicant could propose activities that 
incorporate the principles of universal design. The peer review 
process will evaluate the merits of the proposal. However, NIDRR has 
no basis to determine that all applicants should be required to 
incorporate the principles of universal design into all their 
activities.
    Changes: None.
    Comments: One commenter believes that applicants responding to 
the Cognitive Technologies topic area should be required to develop 
simple and effective tools for applying clinical and technical 
knowledge about diverse cognitive disabilities.
    Discussion: An applicant could propose activities that include 
development of simple and effective tools for applying clinical and 
technical knowledge about diverse cognitive disabilities. The peer 
review process will evaluate the merits of the proposal. However, 
NIDRR has no basis for requiring that all applicants include these 
activities.
    Changes: None.
    Comments: One commenter believes a RERC on Cognitive 
Technologies must employ personnel with the requisite skills and 
knowledge to understand the need for and, as appropriate, develop 
individualized solutions for persons with cognitive disabilities.
    Discussion: An applicant may propose activities that address the 
need for and, as appropriate, develop individualized solutions for 
persons with cognitive disabilities. The peer review process will 
evaluate the merits of the proposal. However, NIDRR has no basis for 
requiring that all applicants propose these activities.
    Changes: None.
    Comments: One commenter believes that the RERC on Cognitive 
Technologies should disseminate RERC findings and information 
through the National Resource Center for Traumatic Brain Injury.
    Discussion: All RERCs are required to develop a dissemination 
plan within the first year of their funding cycle. An applicant may 
propose a plan to disseminate RERC findings and information through 
the National Resource Center for Traumatic Brain Injury. The peer 
review process will evaluate the merits of the proposal. However, 
NIDRR has no basis to determine that all applicants should be 
required to disseminate findings through this group.
    Changes: None.
    Comments: One commenter believes that people with cognitive 
disabilities should be involved in the research and design of a RERC 
on Cognitive Technologies. However, communication problems and 
difficulty with memory and thought organization experienced by many 
people with cognitive disabilities will require investigators to 
explore new methods for participatory research.
    Discussion: All RERCs are required to develop and implement in 
the first three months of their funding cycle a plan to include, as 
appropriate, individuals with disabilities or their representatives 
in all phases of center activities including research, development, 
training, dissemination, and evaluation.
    Changes: None.
    Comments: One commenter noted that the Telecommunications Access 
topic area included a requirement to provide technical assistance to 
public and private organizations, persons with disabilities, and 
employers on policies, guidelines, and standards that affect the 
accessibility of telecommunications technology products and systems. 
The commenter stated that this requirement should be mandatory for 
all RERCs and not just the one that focuses on Telecommunications 
Access.

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    Discussion: NIDRR agrees with the commenter that every RERC 
should provide technical assistance to public and private 
organizations, persons with disabilities, and employers on policies, 
guidelines, and standards that affect their respective areas of 
research.
    Changes: The fifth required activity for a RERC under each of 
the priority topics has been changed so that it reads: ``Provide 
technical assistance to public and private organizations, persons 
with disabilities, and employers on policies, guidelines, and 
standards that affect its respective area of research.'' The final 
priority topic area, Telecommunications Access, has been modified to 
reflect this change by removing the second sentence.
    Comments: One commenter suggested that there are both off-the-
shelf and emerging technologies that have not been explored and that 
RERCs would benefit from looking to these technologies prior to 
proposing new, but similar, research and development projects.
    Discussion: An applicant may propose activities that mine 
existing off-the-shelf and emerging technologies. The peer review 
process will be used to evaluate the merits of the proposal. 
However, NIDRR has no basis for requiring that all applicants 
propose these activities.
    Changes: None.
    Comments: Several commenters expressed concerns that research on 
the built environment and anthropometric data collection and 
databases represent distinct areas that should be addressed in 
separate priorities. These commenters believed that research on the 
built environment is not being addressed adequately through other 
current NIDRR projects and that including anthropometric research 
diverts attention from the built environment.
    Discussion: NIDRR believes that the two topics are closely 
linked and therefore should be included under one RERC. An applicant 
could propose more activity on the built environment and less on 
anthropometric research as long as requirements that both topic 
areas are addressed are met. The peer review process will be used to 
evaluate the merits of the proposal.
    Changes: None.
[FR Doc. 04-12252 Filed 5-27-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P