FR Doc 05-13997
[Federal Register: July 15, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 135)]
[Notices]
[Page 41123-41125]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15jy05-131]
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Part III
Department of Education
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Grants and Cooperative Agreements; Notice of Availability; Notices
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research--
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program--
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of final priority for a National Center for the
Dissemination of Disability Research (NCDDR).
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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services announces one funding priority for the National
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research's (NIDRR)
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program,
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP). The Assistant
Secretary may use this priority for competitions in fiscal year (FY)
2005 and later years. We take this action to focus research attention
on areas of national need. We intend this priority to improve
rehabilitation services and outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This priority is effective August 15, 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 6030, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 245-7462 or by e-mail:
donna.nangle@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the contact person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program
The purpose of the DRRP Program is to plan and conduct research,
demonstration projects, training, and related 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 to improve the effectiveness of services
authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. DRRPs
carry out one or more of the following types of activities, as
specified in 34 CFR 350.13 through 350.19: Research, development,
demonstration, training, dissemination, utilization, and technical
assistance.
An applicant for assistance under this program must demonstrate in
its application how it will address, in whole or in part, the needs of
individuals with disabilities from minority backgrounds (34 CFR
350.40(a)). The approaches an applicant may take to meet this
requirement are found in 34 CFR 350.40(b).
Under the DRRP program, we define a utilization activity as
relating the research findings to practical applications in planning,
policymaking, program administration, and delivery of services to
individuals with disabilities (34 CFR 350.17). We define a
dissemination activity as the systematic distribution of information or
knowledge through a variety of ways to potential users or beneficiaries
(34 CFR 350.18). Additional information on the DRRP program can be
found at: http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/res-program.html#DRRP
.
Analysis of Comments and Changes
We published a notice of proposed priority (NPP) for this program
in the Federal Register on May 5, 2005 (70 FR 23852). Page 23853 of the
NPP included a background statement that described our rationale for
proposing this priority.
In response to our invitation in the NPP, one party submitted
comments on the proposed priority. An analysis of the comments and our
responses follows.
Generally, we do not address technical and other minor changes and
suggested changes we are not authorized to make under the applicable
statutory authority.
Comment: The commenter noted that research and training must be of
the highest quality, relevant, and useful. The commenter suggested that
the priority would not ensure access to information on whether past
efforts have been successful in meeting congressional intent or
information that would enable people with disabilities, their families,
and professionals to make recommendations for improving outcomes for
persons with disabilities.
Discussion: The priority is intended to ensure that NIDRR
constituencies will have ready access to high-quality, research-based
information that has the potential to improve the lives of individuals
with disabilities. NIDRR proposes to accomplish this through such means
as facilitating evidence-based systematic reviews of disability and
rehabilitation research and promoting the development and use of
effective strategies for disseminating information to diverse
populations.
Changes: None.
Comment: The commenter opposed the focus and implementation of this
priority and stated that it will not support the NFI and that it is
inconsistent with NIDRR's Long-range Plan.
Discussion: The project to be supported under this priority, along
with several others, advances the goals of the NFI by helping to ensure
that individuals with disabilities have access to research that meets
high standards and has the potential for improving their lives. The
project implements the Long-range Plan by ensuring that information
disseminated is of high quality and is based on scientifically rigorous
research and development.
Changes: None.
Comment: The commenter stated that, by focusing only on NIDRR
research information, the priority will not provide information needed
by people with disabilities.
Discussion: The priority does not limit applicants to focus only on
NIDRR research in their research syntheses and related activities.
Applicants may propose to expand their research synthesis and related
activities to include other sources of information and the peer review
process will evaluate the merits of each proposal.
Changes: None.
Comment: The commenter urged NIDRR to revise the scope of the
priority to focus generically on research and dissemination from all
publicly-funded sources and to include scanning and reporting of this
research.
Discussion: The priority does not limit applicants to including
only NIDRR research in their research syntheses and related activities.
Scanning journal articles and negotiating permission to place them on a
Web site is beyond the scope of this priority. Applicants may propose
to expand their research synthesis and related activities to include
other sources of information and the peer review process will evaluate
the merits of each proposal.
Changes: None.
Comment: The commenter stated that the NCDDR will operate a Web
site that is not readily accessible to people with intellectual
disabilities.
Discussion: NIDRR agrees that Web site accessibility for people
with intellectual disabilities is important. The priority does not
limit applicants to addressing any particular type of accessibility.
Applicants may propose to disseminate information in other
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accessible formats and the peer review process will evaluate the merits
of each proposal.
Change: None.
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. When inviting applications we
designate the priority as absolute, competitive preference, or
invitational. 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 either
(1) awarding additional points, depending on how well or the extent
to which the application meets the competitive preference priority
(34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2) selecting an application that meets
the competitive preference 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 invitational
priority. However, we do not give an application that meets the
invitational priority a competitive or absolute preference over
other applications (34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)).
Note: NIDRR supports the goals of President Bush's New Freedom
Initiative (NFI). The NFI can be accessed on the Internet at the
following site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/newfreedom/.
This final priority is in concert with NIDRR's 1999-2003 Long-Range
Plan (Plan). The Plan is comprehensive and integrates many issues
relating to disability and rehabilitation research topics. While
applicants will find many sections throughout the Plan that support
potential research and dissemination to be conducted under the proposed
priority, a specific reference is included for the priority presented
in this notice. The Plan can be accessed on the Internet at the
following site: http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/index.html.
Through the implementation of the NFI and 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 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.
Priority
The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services intends to fund a National Center for the Dissemination of
Disability Research to serve as a lead center in the area of Knowledge
Translation/Knowledge Dissemination and Utilization. This center will
ensure that NIDRR constituencies have ready access to high-quality,
research-based information that has the potential to improve the lives
of individuals with disabilities. The reference to this priority may be
found in the Plan, Chapter 8, Knowledge Dissemination. The center
must--
(1) Identify standards, guidelines, and methods appropriate for
developing evidence-based systematic reviews of disability and
rehabilitation research;
(2) Serve as a technical assistance resource to NIDRR grantees to
ensure that research studies will meet standards for inclusion in
evidence-based systematic reviews;
(3) Develop partnerships with existing collaborations and
registries to identify gaps and opportunities and to facilitate the
systematic review of disability and rehabilitation research;
(4) Identify and promote the use of evidence-based reviews in topic
areas developed in collaboration with NIDRR and its grantees;
(5) Identify, develop, and assess the effectiveness of strategies
for dissemination of high quality information to diverse target
populations; and
(6) Serve as a technical assistance resource to NIDRR grantees to
ensure the use of effective strategies for dissemination of high
quality information to diverse target populations.
Executive Order 12866
This notice of final priority (NFP) 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 regulatory action.
The potential costs associated with the NFP 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 NFP, we have determined that the benefits of
the final priority justify the costs.
Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 350.
Electronic Access to This Document
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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.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html
.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.133A, Disability
Rehabilitation Research Project.)
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(a).
Dated: July 12, 2005.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 05-13997 Filed 7-14-05; 8:45 am]
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