FR Doc E8-8714[Federal Register: April 22, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 78)]
[Notices]
[Page 21607-21613]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22ap08-37]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research--
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program--
Disability Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRPs), Rehabilitation
Research and Training Centers (RRTCs), and Rehabilitation Engineering
Research Centers (RERCs)
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of proposed priorities for DRRPs, RRTCs, and RERCs.
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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services proposes certain funding priorities for the
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program
administered by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research (NIDRR). Specifically, this notice proposes one priority for a
DRRP, one priority for an RRTC, and one priority for an RERC. The
Assistant Secretary may use these priorities for competitions in fiscal
year (FY) 2008 and later years. We take this action to focus research
attention on areas of national need. We intend these priorities to
improve rehabilitation services and outcomes for individuals with
disabilities.
DATES: We must receive your comments on or before May 22, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments about Priority 1--Centers on Research
and Capacity Building to Improve Outcomes for Individuals With
Disabilities from Traditionally Underserved Racial and Ethnic
Populations to Marlene Spencer, U.S. Department of Education, 400
Maryland Avenue, SW., room 6026, Potomac Center Potomac (PCP),
Washington, DC 20202-2700. If you prefer to send your comments through
the Internet, use the following address: marlene.spencer@ed.gov.
Address all comments about Priority 2--Individuals With
Disabilities Living in Rural Areas and Priority 3--Technologies for
Successful Aging With Disability to Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 6029, PCP, Washington, DC
20202-2700. If you prefer to send your comments through the Internet,
use the following address: donna.nangle@ed.gov.
If you send your comments through the Internet, you must include
the priority title in the subject line of your electronic message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information regarding
Priority 1--Centers on Research and Capacity Building to Improve
Outcomes for Individuals With Disabilities from Traditionally
Underserved Racial and Ethnic Populations, contact Marlene Spencer.
Telephone: (202) 245-7532.
For further information regarding Priority 2--Individuals With
Disabilities Living in Rural Areas and Priority 3--Technologies for
Successful Aging With Disability, contact Donna Nangle. Telephone:
(202) 245-7462.
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: This notice of proposed priorities is in
concert with President George W.
[[Page 21608]]
Bush's New Freedom Initiative (NFI) and NIDRR's Final Long-Range Plan
for FY 2005-2009 (Plan). The NFI can be accessed on the Internet at the
following site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/newfreedom.
The Plan, which was published in the Federal Register on February
15, 2006 (71 FR 8165), can be accessed on the Internet at the following
site: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/nidrr/policy.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.
Invitation To Comment
We invite you to submit comments regarding these proposed
priorities. To ensure that your comments have maximum effect in
developing the notice of final priorities, we urge you to identify
clearly the specific proposed priority or topic that each comment
addresses.
We invite you to assist us in complying with the specific
requirements of Executive Order 12866 and its overall requirement of
reducing regulatory burden that might result from these proposed
priorities. Please let us know of any further opportunities we should
take to reduce potential costs or increase potential benefits while
preserving the effective and efficient administration of the program.
During and after the comment period, you may inspect all public
comments about these proposed priorities in room 6030, 550 12th Street,
SW., PCP, Washington, DC, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.,
Eastern time, Monday through Friday of each week except Federal
holidays.
Assistance to Individuals With Disabilities in Reviewing the Rulemaking
Record
On request, we will supply an appropriate aid, such as a reader or
print magnifier, to an individual with a disability who needs
assistance to review the comments or other documents in the public
rulemaking record for these proposed priorities. If you want to
schedule an appointment for this type of aid, please contact the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
We will announce the final priorities in one or more notices in the
Federal Register. We will determine the final priorities after
considering responses to this notice and other information available to
the Department. This notice does not preclude us from proposing or
using additional priorities, subject to meeting applicable rulemaking
requirements.
Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in
which we choose to use these proposed priorities, we invite
applications through a notice in the Federal Register. When inviting
applications we designate the priorities 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)).
Priorities
In this notice, we are proposing one priority for a DRRP, one
priority for an RRTC, and one priority for an RERC.
For the DRRP, the proposed priority is:
Priority 1--Centers on Research and Capacity Building to
Improve Outcomes for Individuals With Disabilities from Traditionally
Underserved Racial and Ethnic Populations.
For the RRTC, the proposed priority is:
Priority 2--Individuals With Disabilities Living in Rural
Areas.
For the RERC, the proposed priority is:
Priority 3--Technologies for Successful Aging With
Disability.
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program
The purpose of the DRRP program is to improve the effectiveness of
services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended,
by developing methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technologies that
advance a wide range of independent living and employment outcomes for
individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with the most
severe disabilities. DRRPs carry out one or more of the following types
of activities, as specified and defined 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). In addition, NIDRR intends
to require all DRRP applicants to meet the requirements of the General
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Requirements
priority that it published in a notice of final priorities in the
Federal Register on April 28, 2006 (71 FR 25472).
Additional information on the DRRP program can be found at:
http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/res-program.html#DRRP.
Proposed Priority
Priority 1--Centers on Research and Capacity Building To Improve
Outcomes for Individuals With Disabilities From Traditionally
Underserved Racial and Ethnic Populations
Background
In the United States (U.S.), most racial and ethnic minority
populations have higher rates of disability than the non-Hispanic white
and Asian populations. Non-Hispanic whites and Asians have the lowest
rates of disability in the U.S.; specifically, 18 percent of non-
Hispanic whites and 17 percent of Asians report having a disability. In
contrast, approximately 24 percent of African Americans and
approximately 24 percent of American Indians and Alaskan Natives report
having a disability. Twenty-one percent of the Hispanic or Latino
population and 19 percent of the Native Hawaiian or other Pacific
Islander populations report having a disability (U.S. Bureau of the
Census, 2003). In addition to having higher disability rates, racial
and ethnic minority populations in the U.S. are growing faster than the
non-Hispanic white population and now comprise approximately one third
of the U.S.
[[Page 21609]]
population (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2007).
Individuals with disabilities from most racial and ethnic minority
populations in the U.S. face unique on-going barriers to full
participation in society, and there is a general lack of research
addressing the important question of which interventions can be
employed to address those barriers effectively (National Council on
Disability, 2003).
These long-standing demographic trends provided the basis for
section 21 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended (Rehabilitation Act).
Section 21 of the Rehabilitation Act requires NIDRR to reserve a
portion of its funds each year to carry out certain outreach
activities, including making awards to minority entities and Indian
tribes to conduct research, training, and technical assistance or
related activities to improve services for individuals with
disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act, especially individuals from
racial and ethnic minority populations. The section 21 requirements are
aligned with NIDRR's commitment to advance theories, measures,
interventions, and products that lead to improved employment, community
participation, and health and function outcomes for all individuals
with disabilities, including individuals from racial and ethnic
minority populations.
One critical aspect of NIDRR's work in this area is building the
capacity of the disability and rehabilitation research field to engage
in rigorous and culturally-relevant research. This capacity building
includes providing opportunities for advanced research and advanced
research training at minority entities, as defined in section
21(b)(5)(B) of the Rehabilitation Act. These minority entities are
defined to include historically black colleges and universities,
Hispanic-serving institutions of higher education, Indian tribal
colleges and universities, and other institutions of higher education
with a minority student enrollment of at least 50 percent. Capacity
building also includes sponsoring outreach activities to reach minority
entities and Indian tribes in order to promote their participation in
advanced disability and rehabilitation research.
References
National Council on Disability (2003). Outreach and People With
Disabilities From Diverse Cultures. A Review of the Literature.
http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/advisory/cultural/cdi_litreview.htm.
U.S. Bureau of the Census. (2007). Minority Population Tops 100
Million. May 17, 2007 Press Release.
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/010048.html.
U.S. Bureau of the Census. (2003). Disability Status: 2000. Census
2000 Brief. http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/c2kbr-17.pdf.
Proposed Priority
The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services proposes a priority to establish, under the Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Project (DRRP) program, Centers on Research and
Capacity Building to Improve Outcomes for Individuals With Disabilities
from Traditionally Underserved Racial and Ethnic Populations (each a
Center).
This priority is intended to improve the quality and utility of
research related to individuals with disabilities from traditionally
underserved racial and ethnic populations in the United States and to
enhance the capacity of minority entities (as defined in section
21(b)(5)(B) of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended) to conduct this
research. Under this priority, each Center must be designed to
contribute to the following outcomes:
(a) New knowledge about rehabilitation and independent living
services and outcomes for individuals with disabilities from
traditionally underserved racial and ethnic populations, and knowledge
about how services for these populations can be improved. Each Center
must contribute to this outcome by conducting research that examines
service experiences and outcomes for individuals with disabilities from
traditionally underserved racial and ethnic populations.
(b) Improved capacity to conduct high quality research and develop
new knowledge about rehabilitation and independent living services and
outcomes for individuals with disabilities from traditionally
underserved racial and ethnic populations. Each Center must contribute
to this outcome by developing strategic research and capacity-building
collaborations with other entities that have demonstrated expertise in
conducting high quality disability and rehabilitation research.
Applicants must focus their research activities on topics that fall
under at least one of the following major life domains, which are
identified in NIDRR's Final Long-Range Plan for FY 2005-2009:
(1) Employment. Topics of interest under this domain include but
are not limited to the following: (a) The unique experiences and
factors that influence outcomes for individuals with disabilities from
traditionally underserved racial and ethnic populations who are served
by the State vocational rehabilitation (VR) services program; and (b)
VR services and approaches that improve the employment outcomes of
individuals with disabilities from racial and ethnic minority
populations.
(2) Participation and Community Living. Topics of interest under
this domain include but are not limited to the following: (a) the
unique experiences and factors that affect community participation and
community living outcomes of individuals with disabilities from racial
and ethnic minority populations who are served by Department-funded
centers for independent living (CILs); and (b) independent living
services that improve the community participation outcomes of
individuals with disabilities from racial and ethnic minority
populations who are served by CILs.
(3) Health and Function. Topics of interest under this domain
include but are not limited to the following: (a) The unique
experiences and factors that affect health and function outcomes for
individuals with disabilities from racial and ethnic minority
populations who receive clinical services in medical rehabilitation
programs; and (b) medical rehabilitation services or approaches that
improve the health, function, employment, or community participation
outcomes for individuals with disabilities from racial and ethnic
minority populations.
In carrying out the purposes of the priority, each Center must--
Involve individuals with disabilities from traditionally
underserved racial and ethnic populations in planning and implementing
the Center's activities, and evaluating its work;
Develop, implement, and evaluate dissemination strategies
for research and technical assistance products developed by the
project;
Develop and regularly update an online information
dissemination system that meets a government- or industry-recognized
standard for accessibility;
Provide research-based expertise, consultation, and
technical assistance to relevant service providers who are seeking to
improve outcomes of individuals with disabilities from traditionally
underserved populations; and
Through consultation with the NIDRR project officer,
coordinate and establish partnerships, as appropriate, with other
academic institutions and
[[Page 21610]]
organizations that are relevant to the project's proposed activities.
Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (RRTCs)
The purpose of the RRTC program is to improve the effectiveness of
services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended,
through advanced research, training, technical assistance, and
dissemination activities in general problem areas, as specified by
NIDRR. Such activities are designed to benefit rehabilitation service
providers, individuals with disabilities, and the family members or
other authorized representatives of individuals with disabilities. In
addition, NIDRR intends to require all RRTC applicants to meet the
requirements of the General Rehabilitation Research and Training
Centers (RRTC) Requirements priority that it published in a notice of
final priorities in the Federal Register on February 1, 2008 (72 FR
6132). Additional information on the RRTC program can be found at:
http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/res-program.html#RRTC.
Statutory and Regulatory Requirements of RRTCs
RRTCs must--
Carry out coordinated advanced programs of rehabilitation
research;
Provide training, including graduate, pre-service, and in-
service training, to help rehabilitation personnel more effectively
provide rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities;
Provide technical assistance to individuals with
disabilities, their representatives, providers, and other interested
parties;
Demonstrate in their applications how they will address,
in whole or in part, the needs of individuals with disabilities from
minority backgrounds;
Disseminate informational materials to individuals with
disabilities, their representatives, providers, and other interested
parties; and
Serve as centers of national excellence in rehabilitation
research for individuals with disabilities, their representatives,
providers, and other interested parties.
Priority 2--Individuals With Disabilities Living in Rural Areas
Background
Current population estimates indicate that approximately 10 million
(17 percent) of the 62 million individuals 5 years of age and older
living in the rural United States have one or more disabilities. More
than two million (20 percent) of these individuals with disabilities
are living below the poverty level. In addition to being more likely to
live in poverty than their non-disabled counterparts, individuals with
disabilities living in rural areas are more likely to be 65 years of
age and older, less likely to be employed, and more likely to be
disabled veterans than are urban residents with disabilities (U.S.
Census Bureau, 2006 American Community Survey) (Census Briefs).
Low population density, lack of accessible public transportation,
and shortages of public health and other providers may limit options
for employment, community participation, and access to programs and
services for individuals with disabilities living in rural America
(National Council on Disability, 2007; Phillips & McLerory, 2004; Gamm
et al., 2003). These characteristics of life in rural areas
significantly affect vulnerable members of the population, including
individuals with disabilities.
Previous NIDRR-funded research on vocational rehabilitation
services for individuals with disabilities who live in rural areas
found that individuals with disabilities who live in rural areas have
higher rates of self-employment than other populations (Arnold, 1995).
These findings led to changes within State VR programs to expand self-
employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities in both
rural and urban areas. These changes included greater recognition of
self-employment as an acceptable employment outcome, and an increased
use of rehabilitation approaches that promote self-employment among
State VR program clients (Arnold & Ipsen, 2005). Despite this and other
research-based changes in practice that have expanded rural employment
opportunities and improved outcomes over time, individuals with severe
disabilities who live in rural areas continue to have poor employment
outcomes relative to individuals with severe disabilities living in
urban areas (Lustig, Strauser, & Weems, 2004). There is a need for
additional research to identify programs or interventions that can
increase employment outcomes and economic well-being among individuals
with disabilities living in rural areas.
Characteristics of life in rural areas also make access to health
care difficult for individuals with disabilities. Lack of medical
specialists in rural areas often necessitates frequent long-distance
travel to large medical centers, and limited public transportation
options in rural areas make it difficult for individuals with
disabilities to access routine health care services (Iezzoni, Killeen,
& O'Day, 2006). Additional research is necessary to identify programs
or interventions that can reduce barriers to health care services for
individuals with disabilities living in rural areas, and to improve the
health and function of this population.
References
Arnold, N. (1995). Self-Employment as a Vocational Rehabilitation
Employment Outcome in Rural and Urban Areas. Rehabilitation
Counseling Bulletin, 39(2), 94-106.
Arnold, N., & Ipsen, C. (2005). Self-Employment Policies: Changes
Through The Decade. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 16(2),
115-122.
Gamm, L.D., Hutchison, L.L., Dabney, B.J., & Dorsey, A.M. (2003).
Rural healthy people 2010: A companion document to healthy people
2010. College Station, Texas: The Texas A&M University System Health
Science Center, School of Rural Public Health, Southwest Rural
Health Research Center.
http://centers.srph.tamhsc.edu/centers/rhp2010/introvol1.htm.
Iezzoni, L., Killeen, M., & O'Day, B. (2006). Rural Residents With
Disabilities Confront Substantial Barriers to Obtaining Primary
Care. Health Services Research, 41(4), 1258-1275.
Lustig, D., Strauser, D., & Weems, G. (2004). Rehabilitation Service
Patterns: A Rural/Urban Comparison of Success Factors. Journal of
Rehabilitation, 70(3), 13-19.
National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
Publications. (2006). The 2006 Report to the Secretary: Rural Health
and Human Service Issues. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services.
http://ruralcommittee.hrsa.gov/NAC06AReport.htm#Family.
National Council on Disability. (2007). The impact of the Americans
with Disabilities Act: Assessing the progress toward achieving the
goals of the ADA. Washington, DC: National Council on Disability.
http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2007/ada_impact_07-26-07.htm.
Phillips, C., & McLeroy, K. (2004). Health in Rural America:
Remembering the Importance of Place. American Journal of Public
Health, 94(10), 1661-1663.
Richardson, C., & Waldrop, J. (2003). Veterans: 2000. Census 2000
Brief. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau.
U.S. Census Bureau. (2006). 2006 American Community Survey. Table
S1801 Disability Characteristics. http://factfinder.census.gov/
servlet/STTable?--bm=y&-geo&--id=01000US&-qr--name=ACS--2006--EST--
G00--S1801&-ds--name=ACS--2006--EST--G00--.
Proposed Priority:
The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services proposes a priority for a Rehabilitation Research and Training
Center (RRTC) on Individuals With Disabilities Living in Rural Areas.
This RRTC must conduct rigorous research, training, technical
[[Page 21611]]
assistance, and dissemination activities to improve the employment,
economic, and health outcomes for individuals with disabilities in
rural areas of the United States (U.S.). The RRTC must identify
programs, service delivery approaches, or interventions that support
and lead to improved outcomes in these areas. Where possible, the RRTC
must use a rigorous (i.e., experimental or quasi-experimental) design
to evaluate these programs, service delivery approaches, or
interventions. Under this priority, the RRTC must be designed to
contribute to the following outcomes:
(a) Policies, programs, or interventions that improve employment
and economic outcomes for individuals with disabilities living in rural
areas. The RRTC must contribute to this outcome by identifying
evidence-based interventions, including exemplary vocational
rehabilitation strategies, or developing and testing new interventions
to improve employment and economic outcomes for these individuals.
(b) Rehabilitation or community-based programs or interventions
that enhance access to health services and improve the health and
function of individuals with disabilities living in rural areas of the
U.S. The RRTC must contribute to this outcome by identifying,
developing or modifying, and evaluating new programs or interventions
to determine their effectiveness in enhancing access to health services
and improving the health and function of individuals with disabilities
living in rural areas of the U.S.
(c) Enhancement of the knowledge base of rehabilitation and health
providers who deliver services to individuals with disabilities living
in rural areas of the U.S. The RRTC must contribute to this outcome by
developing, evaluating, and implementing research-based training and
technical assistance programs and initiatives that are based upon
findings from research activities described in paragraphs (a) and (b)
of this priority.
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers Program
General Requirements of Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers
(RERCs)
RERCs carry out research or demonstration activities in support of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, by--
Developing and disseminating innovative methods of
applying advanced technology, scientific achievement, and psychological
and social knowledge to: (a) Solve rehabilitation problems and remove
environmental barriers; and (b) study and evaluate new or emerging
technologies, products, or environments and their effectiveness and
benefits; or
Demonstrating and disseminating: (a) Innovative models for
the delivery of cost-effective rehabilitation technology services to
rural and urban areas; and (b) other scientific research to assist in
meeting the employment and independent living needs of individuals with
severe disabilities; and
Facilitating service delivery systems change through: (a)
The development, evaluation, and dissemination of consumer-responsive
and individual and family-centered innovative models for the delivery
to both rural and urban areas of innovative cost-effective
rehabilitation technology services; and (b) other scientific research
to assist in meeting the employment and independence needs of
individuals with severe disabilities.
Each RERC must be operated by, or in collaboration with, one or
more institutions of higher education or one or more nonprofit
organizations.
Each RERC must provide training opportunities, in conjunction with
institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations, to assist
individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to become
rehabilitation technology researchers and practitioners.
Each RERC must emphasize the principles of universal design in its
product research and development. Universal design is ``the design of
products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest
extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized
design'' (North Carolina State University, 1997.
http://www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/about_ud/udprinciplestext.htm).
Additional information on the RERC program can be found at:
http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/index.html.
Priority 3--Technologies for Successful Aging With Disability
Background
Results from the American Community Survey (ACS) indicate that, in
2006, the overall prevalence rate of disability among working-age
individuals ages 21 to 64 was 12.9 percent (22.4 million), compared to
30.2 percent for individuals ages 65 to 74 (5.6 million), and 52.6
percent for individuals 75 years of age and older (8.9 million). In
addition, the number of Americans who are 55 years of age and older
will nearly double between now and 2030--from 60 million to 107.6
million--as the Baby Boomers reach retirement age (Experience Corps,
2007). Given the strong relationship between age and disability, the
total number of working-age and older adults living with a disability
is expected to grow significantly as the United States (U.S.)
population ages rapidly in the coming decades.
Thirty-seven percent of adults aged 65 and older reported having a
severe disability in 2002. About 16 percent of adults in this age
cohort require assistance to carry out daily activities and meet
important personal needs (Steinmetz, 2006). Also, a large segment of
the working-age population with disabilities is aging into midlife with
disabilities that were acquired at birth through young-adulthood
(McNeil, 1997). Evidence from empirical studies funded by NIDRR over
the past few years indicates that many members of this working-age
cohort are at risk of experiencing new health conditions and
impairments that will undermine their community participation and
community living, and result in ``premature aging'' (Kemp, 2005;
Rimmer, 2005). Taken together, these studies point to two important
segments of the U.S. population who will experience the dual effects of
aging and disability--individuals with life-long and long-term
disabilities, and individuals who age into disability for the first
time in later life.
Despite the increased risks of disability associated with aging,
older Americans strongly prefer to remain in their homes, use public
services, and function independently as they age. A nationwide
telephone survey of 2,000 individuals, conducted by the American
Association of Retired Persons (AARP), found that ``more than 8 in 10
respondents age 45 and over (including many Baby Boomers)--and more
than 9 in 10 of those 65 and over--say they would like to stay where
they are for as long as possible. Even if they should need help caring
for themselves, 82 percent would prefer not to move from their current
homes and many say they are modifying their residences to make this
possible'' (Bayer & Harper, 2000).
Currently, more than 12 million individuals in the U.S., about 80
percent of whom are 50 years of age or older and about half of whom are
65 years of age or older, need some type of long-term care services and
supports, including assistive technologies, to perform daily activities
and remain in their homes (International Longevity Center, 2006).
Assistive technology use has increased for all ages, but especially
for
[[Page 21612]]
those 65 years of age and over (Russell et al., 1997). A 1992 study
estimated that 2.5 million individuals, or about 1 percent of the U.S.
population, have an unmet need for assistive technology devices
(LaPlante et al., 1992).
Designing appropriate and cost-effective assistive technologies for
aging adults with disabilities will require a better understanding of
the unique needs of technology users among this population, and the
circumstances under which technology can most effectively be used to
meet such needs (Agree & Freedman, 2003). Accordingly, NIDRR seeks to
fund an RERC that will evaluate new or existing technologies to address
the challenges of community participation, employment, and community
living experienced by middle-age and older adults with disabilities.
References
Agree, E.M., & Freedman, V.A. (2003). A Comparison of Assistive
Technology and Personal Care in Alleviating Disability and Unmet
Need. Gerontologist, 43(3), 335-344.
Bayer, A., & Harper, L. (2000). Fixing to Stay: A National Survey on
Housing and Home Modification Issues--Research Report. Washington,
DC: AARP.
Experience Corps. (2007). Fact Sheet on Aging in America. Retrieved
March 3, 2008 from:
http://www.experiencecorps.org/images/pdf/Fact%20Sheet.pdf.
International Longevity Center, and the Schmieding Center for Senior
Health and Education of Northwest Arkansas. (2006). Caregiving In
America. Retrieved March 3, 2008 from:
http://www.ilcusa.org/media/pdfs/Caregiving%20in%20America-%20Final.pdf.
Kemp, B.J. (2005). What the rehabilitation professional and the
consumer need to know. In Adrian Cristian (Ed.), Aging with a
Disability. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North
America, 16, 1-18. Burlington, MA: Elsevier Inc.
LaPlante, M.P., Hendershot, G.E., & Moss, A.J. (1992). Assistive
technology devices and home accessibility features: prevalence,
payment, need, and trends. Advance Data from Vital and Health
Statistics, No. 217. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health
Statistics.
McNeil, J.M. (1997). Americans with Disabilities; 1994-95. Current
Population Reports, Report No. P70-61. Washington, DC: U.S.
Government Printing Office.
http://www.census.gov/prod/3/97pubs/p70-61.pdf.
Rimmer, J.L. (2005). Exercise and physical activity in persons aging
with a physical disability. In Adrian Cristian (Ed.), Aging with a
Disability. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North
America, 16, 41-56. Burlington, MA: Elsevier Inc.
Russell, J.N., Hendershot, G.E., LeClere, F., Howie, J., & Adler, M.
(1997). Trends and differential use of assistive technology devices:
United States, 1994. Advance Data from Vital and Health Statistics;
No. 292. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics.
Steinmetz, E. (2006). Americans With Disabilities: 2002, Current
Population Reports. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau.
Proposed Priority
The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services proposes a priority for the establishment of an RERC for
Technologies for Successful Aging with Disability. Under this priority,
the RERC must research, evaluate, and develop new assistive
technologies and approaches, or modify and apply existing technologies
and approaches that address the challenges to community participation
experienced by middle-age and older adults with disabilities in home,
work, or community settings.
Under this priority, the RERC must be designed to contribute to the
following outcomes:
(a) Increased technical and scientific knowledge regarding the use
of technologies for successful aging with disability. The RERC must
contribute to this outcome by conducting no more than four rigorous
research and development projects that address the needs of individuals
with disabilities and that use state-of-the-art methodologies. These
projects must generate measurable results and improve policy, practice,
or system capacity to use technology to meet the community
participation needs of individuals who are aging with disabilities, or
who are aging into disability.
(b) Improved technologies, technology-based products, and
environments for successful aging with disability. The RERC must
contribute to this outcome by developing new, or modifying and applying
existing technologies, technology-based products, and built
environments, and testing and evaluating their utility for intended
users.
(c) Increased impact of research in the area of technologies for
successful aging with disability. The RERC must contribute to this
outcome by providing technical assistance to public and private
organizations, individuals with disabilities, and employers on
policies, guidelines, and standards related to the use of technologies
to facilitate successful aging with disability.
(d) Increased transfer of RERC-developed technologies to the
marketplace. The RERC must contribute to this outcome by developing and
implementing a technology transfer plan for ensuring that all
technologies developed by the RERC are made available to the public.
The RERC must develop its technology transfer plan in the first year of
the project period in consultation with the NIDRR-funded Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Project, Center on Knowledge Translation for
Technology Transfer.
In addition, the RERC must--
Have the capability to design, build, and test prototype
devices and assist in the transfer of successful solutions to relevant
production and service delivery settings;
Evaluate the efficacy and safety of its new products,
instrumentation, or assistive devices;
Provide as part of its proposal, and then implement, a
plan that describes how it will include, as appropriate, individuals
with disabilities or their representatives in all phases of its
activities, including research, development, training, dissemination,
and evaluation;
Provide as part of its proposal, and then implement, in
consultation with the NIDRR-funded National Center for the
Dissemination of Disability Research (NCDDR), a plan to disseminate its
research results to individuals with disabilities, their
representatives, disability organizations, service providers,
professional journals, manufacturers, and other interested parties;
Conduct a state-of-the-science conference on its
designated priority research area in the fourth year of the project
period, and publish a comprehensive report on the final outcomes of the
conference in the fifth year of the project period; and
Coordinate research projects of mutual interest with
relevant NIDRR-funded projects, as identified through consultation with
the NIDRR project officer.
Executive Order 12866
This notice of proposed priorities 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 this notice of proposed
priorities 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 notice of proposed priorities, we have
determined that the benefits of the proposed priorities justify the
costs.
[[Page 21613]]
Summary of Potential Costs and Benefits
The benefits of the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects
and Centers Programs have been well established over the years in that
similar projects have been completed successfully. These proposed
priorities will generate new knowledge and technologies through
research, development, dissemination, utilization, and technical
assistance projects.
Another benefit of these proposed priorities is that the
establishment of a new DRRP, a new RRTC, and a new RERC will support
the President's NFI and will improve the lives of individuals with
disabilities. The new DRRP, RRTC, and RERC will generate, disseminate,
and promote the use of new information that will improve the options
for individuals with disabilities to perform regular activities in the
community.
Intergovernmental Review
This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372 and the
regulations in 34 part 79.
Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 350.
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/news/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.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers 84.133A Disability
Rehabilitation Research Projects, 84.133B Rehabilitation Research
and Training Centers, and 84.133E Rehabilitation Engineering
Research Centers Program)
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g), 764(a), 764(b)(2), and
764(b)(3).
Dated: April 17, 2008.
Tracy R. Justesen,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. E8-8714 Filed 4-21-08; 8:45 am]
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