Notice of public meetings: Reauth. of Rehab Act [OSERS] [Federal Register: July 5, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 130)] [Notices] [Page 35195-35197] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as Amended AGENCY: Department of Education. ACTION: Notice of public meetings. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary announces a series of public meetings to solicit comments from the public regarding needed improvements in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.), to assist in the development of reauthorization legislation. DATES: Meetings will be held in Oakland, California, on July 8, 1996, in Washington, D.C., on July 11, 1996, in Boston, Massachusetts, on July 23, 1996, in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 17, 1996, in Chicago, Illinois, on September 19, 1996, and in Bellevue, Washington, on October 29, 1996. In addition, written comments will be accepted and must be received on or before October 29, 1996. ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the following locations: [[Page 35196]] 1. Oakland, California--Marriott City Center, Jewett Ballroom A & B, 1001 Broadway, Oakland, California. 2. Washington, D.C.--Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building, 1st Floor Auditorium, 300 C Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 3. Boston, Massachusetts--Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Federal Building, 1st Floor Auditorium, 10 Causeway Street, Boston, Massachusetts. 4. Atlanta, Georgia--Shepherd Center, Callaway Auditorium, Marcus Building, 2020 Peachtree Road, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia. 5. Chicago, Illinois--O'Hare Marriott Hotel, 8535 W. Higgens Road, Chicago, Illinois. 6. Bellevue, Washington--Red Lion Inn, 300 112th Street, S.E., Bellevue, Washington. Individuals who cannot attend the meeting are invited to send in written comments. Written comments should be addressed to Fredric K. Schroeder, U. S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 3028, Mary E. Switzer Building, Washington, D.C. 20202-2531. Comments transmitted by facsimile should be sent to (202) 205-9772 or (202) 260-7527. Comments can be transmitted in an electronic format either through the electronic bulletin board system (BBS) of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) or through internet. The internet address is ``Rehab__Reauth@ed.gov''. The access number for the RSA BBS is (202) 205-5574 for low speed (2400 BPS or lower) modems and (202) 401-6174 for high speed (9600 BPS and higher) modems. Comments can also be transmitted to the RSA BBS through Fedworld via internet using the telnet command. Telnet to: ``Fedworld.gov''. All comments transmitted in an electronic format should be sent to the following RSA BBS mailbox: ``RSADPPES''. To facilitate the analysis of comments, electronic transmission of comments is preferred. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Persons desiring to participate in the meetings or seeking additional information should contact Beverlee Stafford, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 3014, Mary E. Switzer Building, Washington, D.C. 20202-2550. Telephone (202) 205-8831. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call (202) 205-5538. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Need for Reauthorization The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Act) was reauthorized in 1992. The current Act expires on September 30, 1997. The need for another reauthorization in 1997 provides an opportunity to review and revise the Act to strengthen Federal efforts to assist individuals with disabilities and to support the National Education Goal that, by the year 2000, every adult American will possess the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in a global economy and exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Description of the Act The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, contains eight titles. Section 2 of the Act specifies that the purposes of the Act are: (1) To empower individuals with disabilities to maximize employment, economic self-sufficiency, independence, and inclusion and integration into society through comprehensive and coordinated state-of-the art programs of vocational rehabilitation, independent living centers and services, research, training, demonstration projects, and the guarantee of equal opportunity; and (2) to ensure that the Federal Government plays a leadership role in promoting the employment of individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with severe disabilities, and in assisting States and providers of services in fulfilling the aspirations of individuals with disabilities for meaningful and gainful employment and independent living. Title I of the Act establishes The State Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program that supports the Federal-State partnership in providing vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities with the goal of gainful employment. The Act requires that, in the event services cannot be provided to all eligible individuals with disabilities who apply, States shall give priority to individuals with the most severe disabilities. Each State is required to define who is an ``individual with the most severe disabilities'' for services in that State. Each State vocational rehabilitation agency that is not a consumer-controlled independent commission primarily concerned with rehabilitation is also required to establish a State Rehabilitation Advisory Council to provide advice and guidance to the State agency to ensure that individuals with disabilities and other stakeholders have input in the agency's policies and practices. This title also includes the authorization for the State Client Assistance Program and the American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program. Title II of the Act establishes the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) and authorizes research and related activities. NIDRR administers a program of rehabilitation research, including research and training centers, rehabilitation engineering research centers, research and demonstration projects, field-initiated research projects, utilization and dissemination projects, innovative research grants, and career development grants. Title III authorizes personnel training programs and special demonstrations. Training grants are authorized to assist in increasing the numbers of and skills of qualified personnel who provide services to individuals with disabilities. The training program supports pre- service training at degree granting institutions, experimental and innovative training, continuing education programs, in-service training for personnel of State vocational rehabilitation agencies, and training of interpreters for individuals who are deaf or deaf-blind. The discretionary project authority under title III funds demonstration projects that focus on the service delivery needs of individuals with severe disabilities, including supported employment and transition from school-to-work services, projects for migratory workers with disabilities, and recreational programs for individuals with disabilities. Title IV of the Act establishes the National Council on Disability. The National Council on Disability is an independent Federal agency whose duties include providing advice to Congress and the President on the development of programs under the Rehabilitation Act and reviewing and evaluating, on a continuing basis, all policies and programs for individuals with disabilities conducted or assisted by the Federal Government. Title V contains various civil rights provisions and establishes the Access Board. The function of the Access Board is to develop accessibility guidelines and to ensure compliance with Federal statutes requiring accessibility for persons with disabilities. This title also authorizes the Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights Program, which supports a system in each State to protect the human and legal rights of individuals with disabilities who need services that are beyond the scope of the State Client Assistance Program and who are not eligible for services from other protection and advocacy programs. Title VI of the Act includes authorization for funding Projects With Industry and supported employment programs. The primary goal of the [[Page 35197]] discretionary Projects With Industry grant program is to expand job opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the competitive labor market. In order to develop a partnership between business, industry, labor, and the rehabilitation community, each project is required to have a Business Advisory Council to provide advice on available jobs and training requirements. Title VI also includes a formula grant program to assist States in developing collaborative programs with public agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide training and other services leading to supported employment for individuals with the most severe disabilities. Title VII of the Act was amended significantly in 1992. This title authorizes funding for comprehensive services for independent living, independent living centers, and independent living services for older persons who are blind or visually impaired. Each State must establish a State Independent Living Council that jointly prepares and submits the required State plan for independent living services. A new title VIII was added to the Act in 1992. This title authorizes a variety of discretionary special demonstration and training programs. Cooperation with Other Federal Agencies The public meetings on the Act will be held in cooperation with the National Council on Disability and the Federal agencies that are responsible for the various civil rights provisions contained in title V of the Act. The Assistant Secretary encourages participants at the public meetings and respondents to the request for written comments to consider the provisions of titles IV and V of the Act in their deliberations, as well as those research, training, and service delivery programs contained in the Act that are administered by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. AVAILABILITY OF COPIES OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973, AS AMENDED: An electronic copy of the Act can be accessed through the RSA BBS by calling the following access number: (202) 205-9694. If you experience any difficulty in accessing the BBS, please contact either John Chapman at (202) 205-9290 or Teresa Darter at (202) 205-8444, co-system operators (sysops), for assistance. For those individuals unable to access the BBS, copies of the Act are available in regular print, large print, and computer diskette (WordPerfect 5.1 and ASCII formats) by calling (202) 205-8831. A limited number of copies in braille are also available. MEETING INFORMATION: Meetings will be held in Oakland, California, Washington, D.C., Boston, Massachusetts, Atlanta, Georgia, Chicago, Illinois, and Bellevue, Washington. Individuals desiring to present comments at the meetings are encouraged to reserve a time on the agenda. Individuals will be allowed between five and seven minutes to present comments. The amount of time available will depend upon the number of individuals who request reservations. Commenters are encouraged to bring two copies of their proposed comments. Reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Given the level of response expected, individuals should make reservations as soon as possible. When making reservations, individuals must indicate the need for any special accommodations, including sign language interpreters. While reservations are not needed for those individuals who wish to attend the meetings but do not want to make formal comments, reservations are encouraged to facilitate the participant's access into the proceedings held in Federal buildings. The meetings are open to the public, and the meeting rooms and proceedings will be accessible for individuals with disabilities. The meeting in Oakland, California, will be held on July 8, 1996, from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The location for the meeting is the Marriott City Center Hotel, Jewett Ballroom A & B, 1001 Broadway, Oakland, California. For reservations for the meeting in Oakland, California, please call Gilbert ``Doc'' Williams at (415) 437-7840. The meeting in Washington, D.C., will be held on July 11, 1996, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The location for the meeting is the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building, 1st Floor Auditorium, 300 C Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. Photo identification is required to enter the Federal building, and reservations are encouraged to facilitate access. For reservations for the meeting in Washington, D.C., please call Beverlee Stafford at (202) 205-8831. The meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, will be held on July 23, 1996, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Federal Building, 1st Floor Auditorium, 10 Causeway Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Participants will have to pass through a security check/ metal detector for admittance into the Federal building. For reservations for the meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, please call Anthony Ruscio at (617) 223-4089. The meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, will be held on September 17, 1996, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the Shepherd Center, Callaway Auditorium, Marcus Building, 2020 Peachtree Road, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia. For reservations for the meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, please call Diane Hart at (404) 331-2352. The meeting in Chicago, Illinois, will be held on September 19, 1996, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the O'Hare Marriott Hotel, 8535 W. Higgens Road, Chicago, Illinois. For reservations for the meeting in Chicago, Illinois, please call Kathleen Niemi at (312) 886-8623. The meeting in Bellevue, Washington, will be held on October 29, 1996, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the Red Lion Inn, 300 112th Street, S.E., Bellevue, Washington. For reservations for the meeting in Bellevue, Washington, please call Cecelia Cramer at (206) 220-7840. (Authority: 29 U.S.C. 701) Dated: June 28, 1996. Judith E. Heumann, Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. [FR Doc. 96-17087 Filed 7-3-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P