[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 11, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18298-18299]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5331]


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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 meeting and request for written comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice describes the schedule and agenda of a forthcoming 
meeting of the Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR). 
Notice of this meeting is intended to inform members of the general 
public of their opportunity to attend the meeting and provide comment. 
During the public meeting 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 wide range of research areas. 
Your information will be used by the ICDR in its deliberations; 
however, we cannot respond individually to your comments. The meeting 
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, Employment, and the New Freedom Initiative 
(NFI). 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 NFI.
    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 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 this public meeting 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 Chair 
announces a public meeting in 2006 and invites written comments with 
respect to the Federal disability and rehabilitation research agenda. 
Representatives of the ICDR will be present at the meeting to hear your 
comments. Your comments will be used by the ICDR in its deliberations; 
however we will not respond individually to your comments.
    Date, Time, and Address: The meeting will take place May 23, 2006, 
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Capital Hilton Hotel, 1001 16th Street 
NW., Washington DC, 20036. Telephone: (202) 393-1000.

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 business days in advance of 
the meeting. The meeting location is accessible to individuals with 
disabilities.
    Participants: Individuals who wish to present comments at the 
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

[[Page 18299]]

the expected number of individuals interested in presenting comments at 
the meeting, reservations should be made as soon as possible.
    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 meeting, including those presenting comments, must 
make reservations by May 9, 2006, 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 meeting 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 May 9, 2006. 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 May 9, 2006.

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 to the contact person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    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/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.


John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. E6-5331 Filed 4-10-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P