[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 125 (Wednesday, June 30, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39444-39445]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-14860]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR)

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: This notice describes the schedule and agenda of two 
forthcoming meetings of the Interagency Committee on Disability 
Research (ICDR). Notice of these meetings are intended to inform 
members of the general public of their opportunity to attend the 
meetings and provide comment. During the public meetings and through 
the submission of written comments, we encourage individuals with 
disabilities, including persons who represent service providers, 
service provider organizations, disability and rehabilitation research 
and policy groups, and representatives of advocacy organizations with 
specialized knowledge and experience, to suggest specific ways to 
improve future research for individuals with disabilities. We are also 
interested in hearing from individuals concerning how well the existing 
Federal research programs are responding to the changing needs of 
individuals with disabilities. We are interested in comments covering a 
range of areas, including but not limited to employment, community 
life, education, technology and health. Your information will be used 
by the ICDR in its deliberations; however, we cannot respond 
individually to your comments. The meetings will be open and accessible 
to the general public.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Interagency Committee on Disability 
Research (ICDR), authorized by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as 
amended, promotes coordination and cooperation among Federal 
departments and agencies conducting disability and rehabilitation 
research programs. Representatives of 35 Federal entities regularly 
participate in the ICDR. In addition to the full committee, five 
subcommittees address specific issues: Disability Statistics, Medical 
Rehabilitation, Technology, Technology Transfer and the New Freedom 
Initiative. The goals of the ICDR and its Subcommittees are to: (1) 
Increase public input and involvement in ICDR deliberations to ensure 
research efforts lead to solutions for identified needs, (2) improve 
the visibility of the ICDR and Federal disability research in general, 
(3) identify and solve common problems through collaboration among 
agencies, and (4) initiate and monitor activities involving interagency 
coordination and cooperation in support of the New Freedom Initiative.
    According to statute (Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended): 
``After receiving input from individuals with disabilities and the 
individuals' representatives, the Committee shall identify, assess, and 
seek to coordinate

[[Page 39445]]

all Federal programs, activities, and projects, and plans for such 
programs, activities, and projects with respect to the conduct of 
research related to rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities.''
    The ICDR maintains a public Web site at http://www.icdr.us, which 
contains additional information about the ICDR. This public Web site 
also provides a comment form for collection of comments regarding the 
Federal research agenda in disability and rehabilitation research. The 
purpose of these public meetings and request for written comments is to 
ensure that individuals who may not have access to the Internet and the 
ICDR public Web site also have an opportunity to submit comments.
    The Director of the National Institute on Disability and 
Rehabilitation Research, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services, Department of Education is Chair of the ICDR. The Director 
announces two public meetings in 2004 and invites written comments with 
respect to the Federal disability and rehabilitation research agenda. 
Representatives of the ICDR will be present at the meetings to hear 
your comments. Your comments will be used by the ICDR in its 
deliberations; however we will not respond individually to your 
comments.

Dates, Times, and Addresses:

    Meeting 1: July 20, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in San Francisco, the 
Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery Street, Meeting Room: Mendocino, San 
Francisco, CA 94105. Telephone: (415) 512-1111.
    Meeting 2: July 22, 2004, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Washington, 
DC Metropolitan Area, the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Pentagon City, 1250 South 
Hayes Street, Meeting Room: Plaza D, Arlington, VA 22202. Telephone: 
(703) 415-5000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Jaeger, Executive Secretary 
ICDR, U.S. Department of Education, 550 12th Street, SW., room 6050, 
Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2700. Telephone: (202) 245-
7386. Fax: (202) 245-7633. Internet: [email protected].
    Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) 
may call (202) 205-4475.
    Individuals who need accommodations for a disability in order to 
attend the meeting (i.e., interpreting services, assistive listening 
devices, material in alternative format) should notify Robert Jaeger at 
(202) 245-7386 or (202) 205-4475 (TDD) ten days in advance of the 
meeting. The meeting location is accessible to individuals with 
disabilities.
    Participants: Individuals who wish to present comments at either 
public meeting 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 presenting comments at the meetings, 
reservations should be made as soon as possible. Individuals must 
specify the location (San Francisco or Washington, DC) where they plan 
to attend.
    Format: Participants will be allowed approximately five minutes to 
present their comments, depending upon the number of individuals who 
reserve time on the agenda. Prior to the meeting, participants must 
submit written copies of their comments, and other written or 
electronic versions of information such as agency or organization 
policy statements, recommendations, research findings and research 
literature. Walk-ins must bring 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 July 9, 2004, by contacting: Robert Jaeger, 
Executive Secretary, ICDR.
    If time permits, individuals who have not registered in advance may 
be allowed to make comments.
    Assistance to Individuals with Disabilities at the Public Meeting: 
The meeting room and proceedings will be accessible to individuals with 
disabilities. In addition, when making reservations, anyone presenting 
comments or attending the meetings who needs special accommodations, 
such as sign language interpreters, Brailled agenda, computer-assisted 
real-time (CART) reporting, should inform the previously listed 
individual of his or her specific accessibility needs. You must make 
requests for accommodations on or before July 9, 2004. 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.
    Due Dates: We request your registration to attend along with 
written and e-mail comments to be provided no later than July 9, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Submit all comments to: Robert Jaeger, Executive Secretary 
ICDR, U.S. Department of Education, 550 12th Street, SW., room 6050, 
Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2700. Telephone: (202) 245-
7386. Fax: (202) 245-7633. Internet: [email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf, you may call 
(202) 205-4475.
    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 on request to the contact person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

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.


    Dated: June 24, 2004.
Troy R. Justesen,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 04-14860 Filed 6-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P