[Federal Register: February 25, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 37)]
[Notices]
[Page 9421-9425]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25fe99-125]
[[Page 9421]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part V
Department of Education
_______________________________________________________________________
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research; Notice of
Proposed Funding Priorities for Fiscal Years 1999-2000 for Certain
Centers and Projects; Notice
[[Page 9422]]
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research;
Notice of Proposed Funding Priorities for Fiscal Years 1999-2000 for
Certain Centers and Projects
AGENCY: Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of proposed funding priorities for fiscal years 1999-
2000 for certain centers and projects.
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SUMMARY: The Secretary proposes funding priorities for four
Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (RRTCs) and two Disability
and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRPs) under the National
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) for fiscal
years 1999-2000. The Secretary takes this action to focus research
attention on areas of national need. These priorities are intended to
improve rehabilitation services and outcomes for individuals with
disabilities.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 29, 1999.
ADDRESSES: All comments concerning these proposed priorities should be
addressed to Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Maryland
Avenue, SW, room 3418, Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2645.
Comments may also be sent through the Internet: comments@ed.gov.
You must include the term ``NIDRR Centers and Projects Proposed
Priorities'' in the subject line of your electronic message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle. Telephone: (202) 205-
5880. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the TDD number at (202) 205-9136. Internet:
Donna__Nangle@ed.gov.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the preceding
paragraph.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice contains proposed priorities
under the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers
Program for four RRTCs related to: rehabilitation for persons with
long-term mental illness; rehabilitation for children with disabilities
with special health care needs; policies affecting the provision of
services to children with emotional disturbances and their families;
and improving services and supports to children with emotional
disturbances and their families. The notice also contains proposed
priorities for two DRRPs related to: rehabilitation for women with
disabilities; and analysis of service delivery and policies affecting
emerging disability populations. The proposed priorities refer to
NIDRR's proposed Long-Range Plan (LRP). The proposed LRP can be
accessed on the World Wide Web at:
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/1998-4/
102698a.html
These proposed priorities support the National Education Goal that
calls for every adult American to possess the skills necessary to
compete in a global economy.
The authority for the Secretary to establish research priorities by
reserving funds to support particular research activities is contained
in sections 202(g) and 204 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as
amended (29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764).
The Secretary will announce the final priorities in a notice in the
Federal Register. The final priorities will be determined by responses
to this notice, available funds, and other considerations of the
Department. Funding of a particular project depends on the final
priority, the availability of funds, and the quality of the
applications received. The publication of these proposed priorities
does not preclude the Secretary from proposing additional priorities,
nor does it limit the Secretary to funding only these priorities,
subject to meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.
Note: This notice of proposed priorities does not solicit
applications. A notice inviting applications under this competition
will be published in the Federal Register concurrent with or
following the publication of the notice of final priorities.
Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers
Authority for the RRTC program of NIDRR is contained in section
204(b)(2) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C.
764(b)(2)). Under this program the Secretary makes awards to public and
private organizations, including institutions of higher education and
Indian tribes or tribal organizations for coordinated research and
training activities. These entities must be of sufficient size, scope,
and quality to effectively carry out the activities of the Center in an
efficient manner consistent with appropriate State and Federal laws.
They must demonstrate the ability to carry out the training activities
either directly or through another entity that can provide that
training.
The Secretary may make awards for up to 60 months through grants or
cooperative agreements. The purpose of the awards is for planning and
conducting research, training, demonstrations, and related activities
leading to the development of methods, procedures, and devices that
will benefit individuals with disabilities, especially those with the
most severe disabilities.
Description of Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers
RRTCs are operated in collaboration with institutions of higher
education or providers of rehabilitation services or other appropriate
services. RRTCs serve as centers of national excellence and national or
regional resources for providers and individuals with disabilities and
the parents, family members, guardians, advocates or authorized
representatives of the individuals.
RRTCs conduct coordinated, integrated, and advanced programs of
research in rehabilitation targeted toward the production of new
knowledge to improve rehabilitation methodology and service delivery
systems, to alleviate or stabilize disabling conditions, and to promote
maximum social and economic independence of individuals with
disabilities.
RRTCs provide training, including graduate, pre-service, and in-
service training, to assist individuals to more effectively provide
rehabilitation services. They also provide training including graduate,
pre-service, and in-service training, for rehabilitation research
personnel and other rehabilitation personnel.
RRTCs serve as informational and technical assistance resources to
providers, individuals with disabilities, and the parents, family
members, guardians, advocates, or authorized representatives of these
individuals through conferences, workshops, public education programs,
in-service training programs and similar activities.
RRTCs disseminate materials in alternate formats to ensure that
they are accessible to individuals with a range of disabling
conditions.
NIDRR encourages all Centers to involve individuals with
disabilities and individuals from minority backgrounds as recipients of
research training, as well as clinical training.
The Department is particularly interested in ensuring that the
expenditure of public funds is justified by the execution of intended
activities and the advancement of knowledge and, thus, has built this
accountability into the selection criteria. Not later than three years
after the establishment of
[[Page 9423]]
any RRTC, NIDRR will conduct one or more reviews of the activities and
achievements of the Center. In accordance with the provisions of 34 CFR
75.253(a), continued funding depends at all times on satisfactory
performance and accomplishment.
Proposed General Requirements
The Secretary proposes that the following requirements apply to
these RRTCs pursuant to these absolute priorities unless noted
otherwise. An applicant's proposal to fulfill these proposed
requirements will be assessed using applicable selection criteria in
the peer review process. The Secretary is interested in receiving
comments on these proposed requirements:
Each RRTC must provide: (1) training on research methodology and
applied research experience; and (2) training on knowledge gained from
the Center's research activities to persons with disabilities and their
families, service providers, and other parties, as appropriate.
Each RRTC must develop and disseminate informational materials
based on knowledge gained from the Center's research activities, and
disseminate the materials to persons with disabilities, their
representatives, service providers, and other interested parties.
Each RRTC must involve individuals with disabilities and, if
appropriate, their representatives, in planning and implementing its
research, training, and dissemination activities, and in evaluating the
Center.
Each RRTC must conduct a state-of-the-science conference and
publish a comprehensive report on the final outcomes of the conference.
The report must be published in the fourth year of the grant.
Each RRTC must coordinate with other entities carrying out related
research or training activities.
Priorities
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) the Secretary proposes to give an
absolute preference to applications that meet the following priorities.
The Secretary proposes to fund under this competition only applications
that meet one of these absolute priorities.
Proposed Priority 1: Rehabilitation for Persons With Long-term Mental
Illness
Introduction
Chapter Two of NIDRR's proposed LRP addresses the employment status
of persons with mental illness (63 FR 57197--57198) and Chapter Six (63
FR 57208) sets forth the background to research addressing their
rehabilitation needs within the framework of community integration. The
National Institute of Mental Health estimates that there are over 3
million adults ages 18-69 who have a serious mental illness
(Manderscheid, R.W. & Sonnenschein, M.A. (Eds.), Mental Health, United
States 1992 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville,
MD; DHHS Publication No.(SMA) 92-1942).
The psychiatric rehabilitation model includes recovery as an
outcome for persons experiencing long-term mental illness (LTMI). The
recovery paradigm is defined as the personal, unique process of
changing one's attitudes, values, skills, and roles to maximize
personal functioning (Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, Inc., http:/
/www.psychdismgmt.com/index.html). It refers to persons with LTMI
regaining social function and developing new meaning and purpose in
their lives through understanding and accepting their disability,
taking personal responsibility, developing hope, and effectively
utilizing support. There is a need to determine the effectiveness of
the recovery approach to rehabilitation for persons with LTMI.
Proposed Priority
The Secretary, in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration and the Center for Mental Health
Services, proposes to establish an RRTC on rehabilitation for persons
with LTMI to address the employment status of persons with LTMI and
investigate the effectiveness of functional recovery. The RRTC must:
(1) Investigate individual and environmental factors that
facilitate or hinder recovery, and describe the recovery process;
(2) Investigate whether the recovery process differs for
individuals based on diagnosis, ethnicity, and history of physical or
psychological abuse;
(3) Investigate the relationships between recovery and job
training, education, and employment; and
(4) Investigate the impact of various alternative health care
practices and wellness activities such as exercise, diet, meditation,
peer support, and personal assistance services on employment outcomes
for persons with LTMI.
Proposed Priority 2: Rehabilitation for Children With Disabilities With
Special Health Care Needs
Introduction
Chapter Four of NIDRR's proposed LRP addresses health care and
health care systems for persons with disabilities (63 FR 57202--57203).
For the purposes of this proposed priority, children with disabilities
with special health care needs have a chronic physical, developmental,
behavioral, or emotional condition and also require health and related
services of a type or amount beyond that required by children
generally.
As the trend toward enrolling Medicaid-eligible populations in
capitated healthcare delivery programs (e.g., health maintenance
organizations) continues, States have begun to address the challenges
of providing coordinated, high quality health care to high cost
populations. Children with disabilities with special health care are
among those high cost populations because they tend to need multiple
services, advanced technologies, and specialized services. Research is
needed to determine whether cost control strategies are preventing
children with disabilities with special health care needs from
receiving access to the range of specialized and support services, and
technologies that they need to treat their condition and prevent
further disability.
Proposed Priority
The Secretary proposes to establish an RRTC to improve
rehabilitation outcomes for children with disabilities with special
health care needs. The RRTC must:
(1) Investigate access to pediatric rehabilitation, including
specialized and support services, and technologies, by children with
disabilities with special health care needs;
(2) Analyze the impact of cost control strategies on the provision
of health care to children with disabilities with special health care
needs;
(3) Identify best practices in the transition from pediatric to
adult medical care in capitated managed care settings;
(4) Assess the effectiveness and appropriateness of using
telerehabilitation to provide health care services to children with
disabilities with special health care needs in remote settings; and
(5) Identify training issues for service providers who diagnose and
assess the assistive technology needs of children with disabilities who
have special health care needs.
In carrying out these purposes, the RRTC must coordinate with the
Maternal and Child Health Bureau and the Office of Policy and Planning
in the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Special
Education Programs, the Federal Interagency Coordinating Council, and
the
[[Page 9424]]
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Telerehabilitation.
Two Priorities Addressing Children With Emotional Disturbances
Chapter Seven of NIDRR's proposed LRP (63 FR 57213) addresses
public policy issues for people with disabilities including the
integration of service systems. Children with emotional disturbances
and their families are likely to receive services from a number of
social service systems. Gaining a better understanding of the policies
that serve as the foundation for these services, and their interaction,
may contribute to improvements in the quality of services.
Approximately 3.5 to 4 million youngsters (from ages 9-17) are
estimated to have an emotional disturbance accompanied by substantial
functional impairment (Center for Mental Health Services, Publication
SMA96-308, Chapter 6, 1996).
Proposed Priority 3: Policies Affecting the Provision of Services to
Children With Emotional Disturbances and Their Families
Introduction
Many children with emotional disturbances receive services over
extended periods of time from multiple agencies including child welfare
and protective services agencies, schools and local educational
agencies, and elements of the juvenile justice system. Coordination of
the delivery of services from multiple agencies is a difficult
undertaking that may be facilitated by ensuring that the public
policies authorizing the services are compatible and promote
coordination and collaboration.
The costs, or part of the costs, of mental health services provided
to children with emotional disturbances are routinely covered by
insurance programs. Research is needed to understand the impact of
changes in the field of health care financing on mental health services
provided to children with emotional disturbances.
Proposed Priority
The Secretary, in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration and the Center for Mental Health
Services, proposes to establish an RRTC to improve policies affecting
the provision of services to children with emotional disturbances and
their families. The RRTC must:
(1) Develop an analytical framework for assessing: family
characteristics and policies, structure of service systems, service
delivery processes, interagency coordination and collaboration, and
outcomes for children with emotional disturbances and their families;
(2) Using the methodology developed above, determine the
effectiveness of specific policies, implementation strategies, service
delivery procedures, and coordination practices in meeting the needs of
children with an emotional disturbances and their families;
(3) Identify the impact of specific characteristics of interagency
collaboration and coordination on the provision of services to children
with emotional disturbances and their families;
(4) Assess the impact of specific policies on access to services of
children with emotional disturbances from diverse cultural, linguistic,
ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds; and
(5) Investigate the impact of changes in health care financing,
particularly the State Children's Health Insurance Program, on mental
health services provided to children with emotional disturbances.
In carrying out these purposes, the RRTC must:
* Coordinate with the Center for Mental Health Services and
the Office of Policy and Planning in the Department of Health and Human
Services, the Office of Special Education Programs, and the Federal
Interagency Coordinating Council; and
* Establish practical statistical methodologies and
measurement tools that specifically assess the policies affecting
families of children with serious emotional disturbance.
Proposed Priority 4: Improving Services and Supports to Children With
Emotional Disturbances and Their Families
Introduction
Families of children with emotional disturbances face multiple
challenges and need appropriate services for their children as well as
supportive services for the family. Early identification of an
emotional disturbance is beneficial not only to the child, but also to
the family who must learn to address the impact of their child's
behavior on the family and to navigate various service systems. In
order to address family needs and be successful advocates for their
child, families must learn to communicate effectively with providers.
At the same time, service providers must have the ability to understand
families' needs and respond positively to those needs.
Proposed Priority
The Secretary, in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration and the Center for Mental Health
Services, proposes to establish an RRTC to improve services and
supports for children with emotional disturbances and their families.
The RRTC must:
(1) Develop and evaluate service delivery models for children with
an emotional disturbance and their families, including family centered
and culturally sensitive services;
(2) Define and evaluate the formal and informal components of
family support and identify successful family support interventions;
(3) Identify and evaluate early intervention strategies; and
(4) Identify, develop, and evaluate communication skills to enable
families and service providers to communicate effectively with each
other.
In carrying out these purposes, the RRTC must coordinate with the
Center for Mental Health Services and the Office of Policy and Planning
in the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Special
Education Programs, and the Federal Interagency Coordinating Council.
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects
Authority for Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects
(DRRPs) is contained in section 204(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 764(a)). DRRPs carry out one or more of the
following types of activities, as specified in 34 CFR 350.13-350.19:
research, development, demonstration, training, dissemination,
utilization, and technical assistance. Disability and Rehabilitation
Research Projects 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. In addition,
DRRPs improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
Proposed Priority 5: Improved Economic Outcomes for Women With
Disabilities
Introduction
Chapter One of NIDRR's proposed LRP (63 FR 57192) addresses the
need for research to explore new ways of measuring and assessing
disability in context, taking into account the effects of physical,
policy, and social environments, and the dynamic nature of disability
over the life span and across environments. Among the
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objectives for persons with disabilities are satisfactory employment,
economic self-sufficiency, and the opportunity to participate in
mainstream community life.
There is evidence that the economic conditions of women with
disability are comparatively poor. Disabled women have lower levels of
educational attainment, lower employment rates regardless of education,
and lower earnings. Also, they are more likely to be dependent on
public income supports, to live in poverty, and to be single parents at
some time during their lives, with responsibility for the care and
support of children (Introduction to Disability, McColl, M. and
Bickenbach, J., Eds., W.B. Saunders Co., 1998).
NIDRR expects this project to contribute to our understanding of
strategies that women with disabilities can use to achieve greater
economic independence. The project may focus on ways to maximize
earnings from work, self-employment, and financial life planning. In
the effort to maximize earnings, some women with disabilities at
various educational levels are setting career goals, attaining
appropriate training and education throughout the life span, and
developing networks and support systems to improve their employment
outcomes. Some disabled women, especially those with young children,
are now considering the advantages and disadvantages of home-based
employment.
Proposed Priority
The Secretary proposes to establish a DRRP to evaluate the economic
status of women with disabilities and identify strategies to improve
employment outcomes and economic independence.
(1) Analyze, using existing data sources, the employment conditions
and economic status of disabled women, including uses of public and
private income supports;
(2) Analyze the skills and conditions that promote lifelong
economics self-sufficiency for disabled women;
(3) Identify innovative strategies to improve employment outcomes,
including earnings, career progression, and benefits packages, for
women with disabilities; and
(4) Identify innovative strategies, including peer support
strategies, to assist disabled women to develop plans to increase
lifelong economic security.
Proposed Priority 6: Analysis of Service Delivery and Policies
Affecting Emerging Disability Populations
Introduction
Chapter 2 of NIDRR's proposed LRP (63 FR 57196-57198) describes
what has become known as the ``emerging universe of disability.''
Demographic, social and environmental trends affect the prevalence and
distribution of various types of disability as well as the demands of
those disabilities on social policy and service systems. Studies of
such emergent disabilities address factors that include: (1) changing
etiologies for existing disabilities; (2) growth in segments of the
population with higher prevalence rates for certain disabilities,
including the aging of the population of individuals with disabilities;
(3) the consequences of changes in public policy and in health care
services and technologies; and (4) the appearance of new disabilities.
Proposed Priority
The Secretary proposes to establish a DRRP to improve the provision
of services to persons with emerging disabilities. The DRRP must:
(1) Evaluate the implications of emerging disabilities for service
systems and social policy; and
(2) Assess the particular needs, with attention to identifying
unmet needs of the emerging universe for independent living services,
assistive technology services, community-based supports, and other
services such as vocational rehabilitation, special education, medical
and psychosocial rehabilitation, income supports, and medical
assistance.
In carrying out these purposes the DRRP must:
* Use a range of existing data sources to estimate and
describe the emerging universe of disability and predict future trends;
* Assess the feasibility of using existing, or establishing
new surveillance systems in order to improve the accuracy of predicting
changes in the emerging universe;
* Identify etiologies, including environmental or social
factors, associated with these emerging disabilities;
* Design a practical and prioritized agenda for a future
research program to address gaps in service delivery, to develop
interventions and to develop policy approaches to address the
disability-related problems of various segments of the emerging
universe; and
* Convene a conference to discuss the Center's findings and
their implications, with an emphasis on dissemination of results of the
conference to appropriate NIDRR grantees.
Electronic Access to This Document
Anyone may view this document, as well as all other Department of
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or
portable document format (pdf) on the World Wide Web at either of the
following sites:
http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.html
http://www.ed.gov/news.html
To use the pdf you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with
Search, which is available free at either of the preceding sites. If
you have questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government
Printing Office at (202) 512-1530 or, toll free at 1-888-293-6498.
Anyone may also view these documents in text copy only on an
electronic bulletin board of the Department. Telephone: (202) 219-1511
or, toll free, 1-800-222-4922. The documents are located under Option
G--Files/Announcements, Bulletins and Press Releases.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register.
Invitation to Comment
Interested persons are invited to submit comments and
recommendations regarding these proposed priorities. All comments
submitted in response to this notice will be available for public
inspection, during and after the comment period, in Room 3424, Switzer
Building, 330 C Street SW, Washington, DC, between the hours of 9:00
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday of each week except Federal
holidays.
Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR Part 350.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.133A, Disability
and Rehabilitation Research Projects, and 84.133B, Rehabilitation
Research and Training Centers)
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 760-762.
Dated: February 19, 1999.
Curtis L. Richards,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services.
[FR Doc. 99-4736 Filed 2-24-99; 8:45 am]
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