[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 111 (Thursday, June 9, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33744-33745]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14345]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA Number: 84.133A-09]


Final Priority; National Institute on Disability and 
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)--Disability Rehabilitation Research 
Project (DRRP)--Disability in the Family

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

ACTION: Notice of final priority.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services announces a funding priority for the Disability 
and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program administered 
by NIDRR. Specifically, this notice announces a priority for a center 
on disability in the family. The Assistant Secretary may use this 
priority for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2011 and later years. We 
take this action to focus research attention on areas of national need. 
We intend this priority to contribute to increased participation and 
community living within the context of family life for individuals with 
disabilities and their families.

DATES: Effective Date: This priority is effective July 11, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marlene Spencer, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5133, Potomac Center Plaza 
(PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2700. Telephone: (202) 245-7532 or by e-
mail: [email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the 
Federal Relay Service, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    This notice of final priority (NFP) is in concert with NIDRR's 
currently approved Long-Range Plan (Plan). The Plan, which was 
published in the Federal Register on February 15, 2006 (71 FR 8165), 
can be accessed on the Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/nidrr/policy.html.
    Through the implementation of 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 the 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.
    This notice announces a priority that NIDRR intends to use for DRRP 
competitions in FY 2011 and possibly later years. However, nothing 
precludes NIDRR from publishing additional priorities if needed. 
Furthermore, NIDRR is under no obligation to make an award for this 
priority. The decision to make an award will be based on the quality of 
applications received and available funding.
    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Disability and 
Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program is (1) to plan and 
conduct research, demonstration projects, training, and related 
activities, including international 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 (2) to improve the effectiveness of services 
authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended 
(Rehabilitation Act).

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

    Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 350.
    We published a notice of proposed priority (NPP) for this program 
in the Federal Register on March 29, 2011 (76 FR 17403). That notice 
contained background information and our reasons for proposing the 
particular priority.
    There are no differences between the proposed priority and this 
final priority.
    Public Comment: In response to our invitation in the notice of 
proposed priority, one party submitted comments on the proposed 
priority.
    Generally, we do not address technical and other minor changes. In 
addition, we do not address general comments that raised concerns not 
directly related to the proposed priority.
    Analysis of Comments and Changes: An analysis of the comment and of 
any changes in the priority since publication of the notice of proposed 
priority follows.
    Comment: One commenter recommended that NIDRR require the DRRP on 
Disability in the Family to partner with the network of Parent Training 
and Information Centers that are funded by the Department's Office of 
Special Education Programs (OSEP), as well as with the Parent Training 
and Information Projects funded by the Department's Rehabilitation 
Services Administration (RSA). The commenter stated that these 
partnerships would ensure widespread dissemination of DRRP resources 
and information.
    Discussion: NIDRR agrees that these partnerships may help provide a 
targeted means of dissemination to families that include at least one 
member with a disability. Nothing in the priority precludes applicants 
from proposing partnerships with OSEP's Parent Training and Information 
Centers, or RSA's Parent Training and Information Projects. However, 
NIDRR does not have a sufficient basis for requiring all applicants to 
do so. Applicants under this priority have a large number of 
stakeholder groups and organizations with whom they can collaborate. 
NIDRR does not want to limit applicants' choices by requiring 
partnerships with a particular type of entity.
    Changes: None.

Final Priority

Priority--DRRP on Disability in the Family

    The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services establishes a priority for a Disability and Rehabilitation 
Research Project (DRRP) on Disability in the Family. The DRRP must 
contribute to the outcome of increased participation and community 
living for individuals with disabilities and their families.
    To contribute to this outcome, the DRRP must--

[[Page 33745]]

    1. Conduct research activities, development activities, or both;
    2. Identify or develop, and test or evaluate interventions, 
programs, technologies, or products;
    3. Conduct knowledge translation activities (i.e., training, 
technical assistance, utilization, dissemination) in order to 
facilitate stakeholder (e.g., people with disabilities, families that 
have at least one member with a disability) use of the interventions, 
programs, technologies, or products that resulted from the research 
activities, development activities, or both;
    4. Involve key stakeholder groups in the activities described in 
paragraphs 1 through 3 in order to maximize the relevance and usability 
of the interventions, programs, technologies, or products to be 
developed or studied; and
    5. Include families who are from traditionally underserved 
populations and who have at least one member with a disability as 
participants when conducting the activities described in paragraphs 1 
through 3.
    To contribute to this outcome, the DRRP may--
    1. Focus its activities at the individual level, the family level, 
the systems level, or any combination of the three levels;
    2. Include in its activities families with a person with a 
disability of any age and any disability;
    3. Interpret the term ``family'' broadly; and
    4. Choose from a wide range of research and development topics and 
approaches within any of the domains in NIDRR's currently approved Long 
Range Plan (i.e., participation and community living, technology for 
access and function, health and function, employment) in order to 
contribute to the outcome goal of increased participation and community 
living for individuals with disabilities and their families.

Types of Priorities

    When inviting applications for a competition using one or more 
priorities, we designate the type of each priority as absolute, 
competitive preference, or invitational through a notice in the Federal 
Register. 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 (1) 
awarding additional points, depending on the extent to which the 
application meets the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2) 
selecting an application that meets the 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 priority. 
However, we do not give an application that meets the priority a 
preference over other applications (34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)).
    This notice does not preclude us from proposing additional 
priorities, requirements, definitions, or selection criteria, subject 
to meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.

    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.

    Executive Order 12866: This notice 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 final regulatory 
action.
    The potential costs associated with this final regulatory action 
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 final regulatory action, we have determined 
that the benefits of the final priority justify the costs.

Summary of Potential Costs and Benefits

    The benefits of the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects 
and Centers Programs have been well established over the years in that 
similar projects have been completed successfully. This final priority 
will generate new knowledge through research, development, and 
knowledge translation activities. Another benefit of this final 
priority is that the establishment of a new DRRP will improve the lives 
of individuals with disabilities and their family members. The new DRRP 
will generate and promote the use of new information that will improve 
the community living and community participation options for 
individuals with disabilities and their families.
    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, 
audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the Grants and Contracts 
Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., 
room 5075, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: 
(202) 245-7363. If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-
877-8339.
    Electronic Access to This Document: 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 via the Federal Digital System 
at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, 
as well as all other documents of this Department published in the 
Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To 
use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at 
the site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: http://www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Dated: June 6, 2011.
Alexa Posny,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2011-14345 Filed 6-8-11; 8:45 am]
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