[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 120 (Friday, June 23, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41111-41112]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13354]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Request for Information (RFI) on NIDCD's Research Directions To 
Support Communication in Minimally Verbal/Non-Speaking People

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, HHS.

ACTION: Request for information.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication 
Disorders (NIDCD) asks for input on research directions to support 
communication in minimally verbal/non-speaking people. NIDCD invites 
anyone with interests in communication in minimally verbal/non-speaking 
people to provide input from a personal, service delivery, or research 
view. Responses to this RFI will be used for planning purposes. The 
NIDCD will use the information submitted in response to this RFI at its 
discretion and will not provide comments to any responder's submission.

DATES: The NIDCD's RFI is open for public comment until 11:59:59 p.m. 
(ET) on August 1, 2023. After the public comment period has closed, the 
comments received by NIDCD will be considered in a timely manner.

ADDRESSES: All responses to this RFI must be submitted at https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/nidcd-minimally-verbal-rfi by August 1, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about this request for 
information should be directed to Holly Storkel, National Institute on 
Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 
[email protected], 301-451-6842.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This RFI is in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 285 
of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. The NIDCD held a virtual 
workshop (https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/news/events/minimally-verbalnon-speaking-individuals-autism-research-directions-interventions) on 
January 24-25, 2023. This workshop focused on new research needed to 
support communication by minimally verbal/non-speaking autistic people. 
The workshop produced many themes for further research for these 
individuals including:

 increasing community engagement in research
 improving technology
 exploring the range of communication skills and needs
 using different research approaches to personalize 
interventions

[[Page 41112]]

 expanding the range of skills and outcomes that interventions 
focus on to improve communication
 expanding the range of evaluation and outcome measures that 
can reliably assess individual needs

    NIDCD now seeks to understand the broader needs and priorities of:

 the larger community of minimally verbal/non-speaking people 
(including and beyond autistic people)
 professionals and others who support minimally verbal/non-
speaking people
 researchers focusing on communication in minimally verbal/non-
speaking people
 any other interested party

    NIDCD is interested in receiving comments on any or all of the 
following questions:
    1. What are the biggest communication needs for minimally verbal/
non-speaking people?
    2. What are the greatest roadblocks to supporting and improving 
communication for minimally verbal/non-speaking people?
    3. What are the highest priority research targets to advance 
communication for minimally verbal/non-speaking individuals?
    4. What are the best ways to increase partnerships between 
researchers and minimally verbal/non-speaking people to guide research 
projects?
    This RFI is for planning purposes only and should not be construed 
as a solicitation for applications or proposals, or as an obligation in 
any way on the part of the United States Federal Government. The 
Federal Government will not pay for the preparation of any information 
submitted or for the Government's use. Additionally, the Government 
cannot guarantee the confidentiality of the information provided.

Debara L. Tucci,
Director, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication 
Disorders, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2023-13354 Filed 6-22-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P