[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 30 (Monday, July 31, 2000)]
[Page 1680]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Memorandum on Strategy for the Development and Transfer of Assistive 
Technology and Universal Design

July 25, 2000

Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

Subject:  Strategy for the Development and Transfer of Assistive 
Technology and Universal Design

    It is my Administration's policy to accelerate the development and 
deployment of assistive technology and technology that promotes 
universal design. Assistive technology maintains or improves the 
functional capabilities of people with disabilities. Universal design is 
the design of products and environments that enables all people to use 
these products, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for 
adaptation or specialized design. Assistive technologies and products 
that incorporate universal design principles can significantly improve 
the quality of life for people with disabilities and increase their 
ability to participate in the workplace.
    Therefore, to improve the quality of life for people with 
disabilities, I direct as follows: (a) The Interagency Committee on 
Disability Research (ICDR) shall, within 120 days from the date of this 
directive, publish a report identifying priority areas for the 
advancement of assistive technologies and universal design capabilities. 
This report should be prepared in cooperation with the disability and 
the research communities. The report should cover technologies needed 
for improving or increasing:
 <bullet>    Sensory functioning, such as digital technologies to 
            enhance speech intelligibility;
 <bullet>    Mobility enhancement, such as advanced prosthetic devices;
 <bullet>    Manipulation ability;
 <bullet>    Cognitive function;
 <bullet>    Accessibility of information and communications technology, 
            such as text-to-speech and speech recognition systems; and
 <bullet>    Accessibility to, and mobility within the physical 
            environment.
    (b) Following the issuance of this report, each agency that 
participates in the Small Business Innovation Research program (SBIR) 
shall, consistent with current law, develop a strategy for enhancing the 
transfer of technology that can contribute to the needs and requirements 
identified by the ICDR. This strategy must address both intramural and 
extramural research and development. Agencies shall publish their 
strategies 6 months after the issuance of the ICDR report. Agency 
strategies should include, but not be limited to, the development of 
focused solicitations under the SBIR program.
    This memorandum does not create any right or benefit, substantive or 
procedural, enforceable by law, by a party against the United States, 
its officers, its employees, or any other person.
                                            William J. Clinton