[Federal Register: April 25, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 80)]
[Notices]
[Page 20384-20385]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25ap03-39]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Interagency Working Group on Assistive Technology Mobility
Devices
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: On February 12, 2003, President George W. Bush signed an
Executive Memorandum establishing the Interagency Working Group on
Assistive Technology Mobility Devices. For definitional purposes in
this Executive Memorandum, ``Assistive Technology Mobility Devices''
are limited to classification code `F Mobility 502 Wheelchair,' of the
`National Classification System for Assistive Technology Devices and
Services.' This includes: attendant-controlled wheelchairs, manual
wheelchairs (rear or front wheel drive), lever-driven wheelchairs,
single side-driven non-powered wheelchairs, foot driven wheelchairs,
electric powered wheelchairs, combustion powered wheelchairs, travel
wheelchairs and scooters, sport wheelchairs, standing wheelchairs, and
wheelchair accessories (classification codes 502.1 through 502.12,
subject to exclusions).
This working group is charged with: (a) Identifying existing
Federal Government programs and resources that are designed to help
individuals with disabilities obtain the assistive technology mobility
devices that they need for education and employment; and (b) working
with State, local, and tribal governments, as appropriate, to identify
State, local, and tribal programs that are designed to help individuals
with disabilities obtain assistive technology mobility devices for
education and employment. As a result of the Working Group's work, a
report will be presented to the President including the specific steps
that each of the agencies represented on the Working Group will take
to: (a) Improve coordination among their existing programs; (b) train
vocational rehabilitation counselors, other service providers, and
individuals with disabilities, as provided by law; and (c) inform
individuals with disabilities about these opportunities. The report
shall also include a description of how individuals with disabilities
can pool funding from existing resources to obtain the assistive
technology mobility devices that they need to pursue their educational
and employment goals.
The Secretary of Education is Chair of the Working Group. The
Secretary announces a public forum and invites written comments with
respect to the above provisions of the Executive Memorandum. Agency
representatives from the Departments of Education, Health and Human
Services, Labor, and Veterans Affairs and the Social Security
Administration along with representatives from other federal agencies
will be present to hear your comments.
During the public meeting and through the submission of written
comments, we encourage individuals with disabilities, particularly
individuals and persons who represent service providers, assistive
technology research and policy, and service provider organizations, and
representatives of advocacy organizations with specialized knowledge
and experience, to suggest specific ways to improve existing funding
sources for individuals with disabilities. We are also interested in
hearing from individuals concerning how well the existing federal
programs and resources are coordinating assistive technology services
for individuals with disabilities--especially any barriers that they
suggest interfere with an individual's option of pooling funding to
obtain the assistive technology mobility devices they need to pursue
their educational and employment goals. If you have any suggestions or
recommendations on how to improve the existing structure, such as
specific regulatory change, method to improve coordination or issuance
of policy guidance to key service providers, we are particularly
interested in these issues. Your information will be used by this
Working Group in our deliberations; however, we will not respond
individually to your comments.
Public Forum
We will hold a public forum on May 21, 2003, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ET at the U.S. Department of Education, Barnhard Auditorium, 400
Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC.
Participants: Individuals who wish to present comments at the
public forum 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 the expected number of
individuals interested in providing comments at the forum, reservations
for presenting comments should be made as soon as possible.
Participants will be allowed approximately 5 minutes to present
their comments, depending upon the number of individuals who reserve
time on the agenda. At the forum, participants also are strongly
encouraged to submit two written copies of their comments, and other
written or emailed information such as agency or organization policy
statements, recommendations, research findings and research literature.
Reservations and Additional Meeting Information: All individuals
attending the public forum, including those presenting comments, must
make reservations by May 16, 2003 by contacting: Loretta Petty Chittum,
Chair, Assistive Technology Mobility Devices Working Group, Deputy
Assistant Secretary, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 3006, Switzer Building,
Washington, DC 20202, FAX: (202) 205-9252, PHONE: (202) 205-5465, E-
MAIL: OSERS.AT@ED.GOV. If time permits, individuals who have not
registered may be allowed to make comments.
In addition to making reservations, individuals attending the
public forum, for security purposes, must be prepared to show photo
identification in order to enter the meeting location.
Assistance to Individuals With Disabilities at the Public Forum
The meeting room and proceedings will be accessible to individuals
with disabilities. In addition, when making reservations, anyone
presenting comments at or attending the forum who needs special
accommodations, such as sign language interpreters, Brailled materials,
and communications access real-time transcription, should inform the
previously listed individual of his or her specific accessibility
needs. You should make requests for accommodations at least 10 working
days prior to the scheduling meeting date. 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.
Request for Comments
In addition to soliciting input during the public forum, we invite
the public to submit written or electronically mailed comments on how
well the existing federal programs and resources are serving
individuals with disabilities--especially any barriers they suggest
interfere with an individual's option of pooling funding to obtain the
assistive technology mobility devices they need to pursue their
educational and employment goals. If you have any suggestions or
recommendations on
[[Page 20385]]
how to improve the existing structure, such as regulatory change,
suggestions to improve interagency coordination, or policy guidance, we
are particularly interested in these issues.
DATES: We request your written and email comments to be provided no
later than June 1, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Submit all comments to: Loretta Petty Chittum, Chair,
Assistive Technology Mobility Devices Working Group, Deputy Assistant
Secretary, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, 400
Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 3006, Switzer Building, Washington, DC
20202, FAX: (202) 205-9252, PHONE: (202) 205-5465, E-MAIL:
OSERS.AT@ED.GOV.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Loretta Petty Chittum, Chair,
Assistive Technology Mobility Devices Working Group, Deputy Assistant
Secretary, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, 400
Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 3006, Switzer Building, Washington, DC
20202, FAX: (202) 205-9252, PHONE: (202) 205-5465, E-MAIL:
OSERS.AT@ED.GOV. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf,
you may call (202) 205-5637 and select ``public comments''.
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 in the
previous paragraph.
Availability of Copies of the Executive Memorandum: You may obtain
an electronic copy of the Executive Memorandum on the Internet at the
following site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/02/20030212-12.html
.
Availability of Copies of the National Classification System for
Assistive Technology Devices and Services: You may obtain an electronic
copy of this document on the Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/NIDRR/Products/National_Classification_System.doc
.
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/legislation/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.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html
.
Robert H. Pasternack,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 03-10201 Filed 4-24-03; 8:45 am]
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