[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 135 (Friday, July 15, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41124-41125]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-13997]



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Part III





Department of Education





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Grants and Cooperative Agreements; Notice of Availability; Notices

  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 135 / Friday, July 15, 2005 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


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

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

ACTION: Notice of final priority for a National Center for the 
Dissemination of Disability Research (NCDDR).

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services announces one funding priority for the National 
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research's (NIDRR) 
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, 
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP). The Assistant 
Secretary may use this priority for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 
2005 and later years. We take this action to focus research attention 
on areas of national need. We intend this priority to improve 
rehabilitation services and outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This priority is effective August 15, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 6030, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 245-7462 or by e-mail: 
[email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
    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 to develop 
methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technology that maximize the 
full inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent 
living, family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency of 
individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with the most 
severe disabilities, and to improve the effectiveness of services 
authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. DRRPs 
carry out one or more of the following types of activities, as 
specified in 34 CFR 350.13 through 350.19: Research, development, 
demonstration, training, dissemination, utilization, and technical 
assistance.
    An applicant for assistance under this program must demonstrate in 
its application how it will address, in whole or in part, the needs of 
individuals with disabilities from minority backgrounds (34 CFR 
350.40(a)). The approaches an applicant may take to meet this 
requirement are found in 34 CFR 350.40(b).
    Under the DRRP program, we define a utilization activity as 
relating the research findings to practical applications in planning, 
policymaking, program administration, and delivery of services to 
individuals with disabilities (34 CFR 350.17). We define a 
dissemination activity as the systematic distribution of information or 
knowledge through a variety of ways to potential users or beneficiaries 
(34 CFR 350.18). Additional information on the DRRP program can be 
found at: http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/res-program.html#DRRP.

Analysis of Comments and Changes

    We published a notice of proposed priority (NPP) for this program 
in the Federal Register on May 5, 2005 (70 FR 23852). Page 23853 of the 
NPP included a background statement that described our rationale for 
proposing this priority.
    In response to our invitation in the NPP, one party submitted 
comments on the proposed priority. An analysis of the comments and our 
responses 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.
    Comment: The commenter noted that research and training must be of 
the highest quality, relevant, and useful. The commenter suggested that 
the priority would not ensure access to information on whether past 
efforts have been successful in meeting congressional intent or 
information that would enable people with disabilities, their families, 
and professionals to make recommendations for improving outcomes for 
persons with disabilities.
    Discussion: The priority is intended to ensure that NIDRR 
constituencies will have ready access to high-quality, research-based 
information that has the potential to improve the lives of individuals 
with disabilities. NIDRR proposes to accomplish this through such means 
as facilitating evidence-based systematic reviews of disability and 
rehabilitation research and promoting the development and use of 
effective strategies for disseminating information to diverse 
populations.
    Changes: None.
    Comment: The commenter opposed the focus and implementation of this 
priority and stated that it will not support the NFI and that it is 
inconsistent with NIDRR's Long-range Plan.
    Discussion: The project to be supported under this priority, along 
with several others, advances the goals of the NFI by helping to ensure 
that individuals with disabilities have access to research that meets 
high standards and has the potential for improving their lives. The 
project implements the Long-range Plan by ensuring that information 
disseminated is of high quality and is based on scientifically rigorous 
research and development.
    Changes: None.
    Comment: The commenter stated that, by focusing only on NIDRR 
research information, the priority will not provide information needed 
by people with disabilities.
    Discussion: The priority does not limit applicants to focus only on 
NIDRR research in their research syntheses and related activities. 
Applicants may propose to expand their research synthesis and related 
activities to include other sources of information and the peer review 
process will evaluate the merits of each proposal.
    Changes: None.
    Comment: The commenter urged NIDRR to revise the scope of the 
priority to focus generically on research and dissemination from all 
publicly-funded sources and to include scanning and reporting of this 
research.
    Discussion: The priority does not limit applicants to including 
only NIDRR research in their research syntheses and related activities. 
Scanning journal articles and negotiating permission to place them on a 
Web site is beyond the scope of this priority. Applicants may propose 
to expand their research synthesis and related activities to include 
other sources of information and the peer review process will evaluate 
the merits of each proposal.
    Changes: None.
    Comment: The commenter stated that the NCDDR will operate a Web 
site that is not readily accessible to people with intellectual 
disabilities.
    Discussion: NIDRR agrees that Web site accessibility for people 
with intellectual disabilities is important. The priority does not 
limit applicants to addressing any particular type of accessibility. 
Applicants may propose to disseminate information in other

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accessible formats and the peer review process will evaluate the merits 
of each proposal.
    Change: None.

    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 competitive preference priority 
(34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2) selecting an application that meets 
the competitive preference 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 1999-2003 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 and dissemination to be conducted under the proposed 
priority, a specific reference is included for the priority 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; (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 for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services intends to fund a National Center for the Dissemination of 
Disability Research to serve as a lead center in the area of Knowledge 
Translation/Knowledge Dissemination and Utilization. This center will 
ensure that NIDRR constituencies have ready access to high-quality, 
research-based information that has the potential to improve the lives 
of individuals with disabilities. The reference to this priority may be 
found in the Plan, Chapter 8, Knowledge Dissemination. The center 
must--
    (1) Identify standards, guidelines, and methods appropriate for 
developing evidence-based systematic reviews of disability and 
rehabilitation research;
    (2) Serve as a technical assistance resource to NIDRR grantees to 
ensure that research studies will meet standards for inclusion in 
evidence-based systematic reviews;
    (3) Develop partnerships with existing collaborations and 
registries to identify gaps and opportunities and to facilitate the 
systematic review of disability and rehabilitation research;
    (4) Identify and promote the use of evidence-based reviews in topic 
areas developed in collaboration with NIDRR and its grantees;
    (5) Identify, develop, and assess the effectiveness of strategies 
for dissemination of high quality information to diverse target 
populations; and
    (6) Serve as a technical assistance resource to NIDRR grantees to 
ensure the use of effective strategies for dissemination of high 
quality information to diverse target populations.

Executive Order 12866

    This notice of final priority (NFP) 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 NFP 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 NFP, we have determined that the benefits of 
the final priority justify the costs.
    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. 
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    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 84.133A, Disability 
Rehabilitation Research Project.)

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

    Dated: July 12, 2005.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 05-13997 Filed 7-14-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P