Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers; Notice of final priority (NFP) for Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) program [OSERS]

FR Doc 04-12252
[Federal Register: May 28, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 104)]
[Notices]
[Page 30803-30807]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28my04-146]

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Part VII

Department of Education

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Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; National
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)--Disability
and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program--
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers; Notice Inviting
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004; Notices

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

RIN 1820 ZA33

National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research--
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program--
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers

AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of final priority (NFP) for Rehabilitation Engineering
Research Centers (RERC) program.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services announces a final priority under the National
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) Disability
and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program--
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) program for fiscal
year (FY) 2004 and later years. We take this action to focus research
attention on areas of national need. We intend this priority to improve
the rehabilitation services and outcomes for individuals with
disabilities.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This final priority is effective June 28, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of
Education, 550 12th Street, SW., room 6046, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 245-7462 or via Internet:
donna.nangle@ed.gov.

If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the TDD number at (202) 245-7313.
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:

Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers Program

Under the RERC program, we may make awards for up to 60 months
through grants or cooperative agreements to public and private agencies
and organizations, including institutions of higher education, Indian
tribes, and tribal organizations. This funding supports research,
demonstration, and training activities regarding rehabilitation
technology in order to enhance opportunities for meeting the needs of,
and addressing the barriers confronted by, individuals with
disabilities in all aspects of their lives. Each RERC must be operated
by or in collaboration with an institution of higher education or a
nonprofit organization. Additional information on the RERC program can
be found at: http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/RERC.

General Requirements of Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers

RERCs shall 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 (1) solve rehabilitation problems and remove
environmental barriers and (2) study and evaluate new or emerging
technologies, products, or environments and their effectiveness and
benefits;
Demonstrating and disseminating (1) innovative models for
the delivery of cost-effective rehabilitation technology services to
rural and urban areas and (2) other scientific research to assist in
meeting the employment and independent living needs of individuals with
severe disabilities;
Facilitating service delivery systems change through (1)
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 (2) other scientific research to
assist in meeting the employment and independence needs of individuals
with severe disabilities; and
Providing 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.
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. During the funding cycle of
any RERC, NIDRR will conduct one or more reviews of the activities and
achievements of the RERC. In accordance with the provisions of 34 CFR
75.253(a), continued funding depends at all times on satisfactory
performance and accomplishment.
We published a notice of proposed priority (NPP) for this program
in the Federal Register on February 27, 2004 (69 FR 9307). The NPP
included a background statement for this priority at 69 FR 9308. This
NFP contains one change from the NPP. We discuss this change in the
Analysis of Comments and Changes section published as an appendix to
this notice.

Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in
which we choose to use this priority, we invite applications through
a notice published 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 absolute 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 priority (34 CFR
75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2) selecting an application that meets the
competitive 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 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
to be conducted under this priority, a specific reference is included
for each of the priority topics 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;

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(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 announces a final priority for the funding
of RERCs that will focus on innovative technological solutions; new
knowledge; and concepts to promote the health, safety, independence,
active engagement in daily activities, and quality of life of persons
with disabilities. Applicants must select one of the following priority
topic areas: (a) Universal Design and the Built Environment; (b)
Telecommunications Access; (c) Telerehabilitation; and (d) Cognitive
Technologies.
Applicants are allowed to submit more than one proposal as long as
each proposal addresses only one RERC topic area.
Under each of the priority topics the RERC must--
(1) Contribute substantially to the technical and scientific
knowledge-base relevant to its respective subject area;
(2) Research, develop, and evaluate innovative technologies,
products, environments, performance guidelines, and monitoring and
assessment tools as applicable to its respective subject area;
(3) Identify, implement, and evaluate, in collaboration with the
relevant industry, professional associations, and institutions of
higher education, innovative approaches to expand research capacity in
its respective field of study;
(4) Monitor trends and evolving product concepts that represent and
signify future directions for technologies in its respective area of
research; and
(5) Provide technical assistance to public and private
organizations, persons with disabilities, and employers on policies,
guidelines, and standards that affect its respective area of research.
In addition, the following requirements apply to each of the
priority topics:
Each 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. Each
RERC must evaluate the efficacy and safety of its new products,
instrumentation, or assistive devices;
Each RERC must develop and implement in the first three
months of the grant a plan that describes how the center will include,
as appropriate, individuals with disabilities or their representatives
in all phases of center activities including research, development,
training, dissemination, and evaluation;
Each RERC must develop and implement in the first year of
the grant, in consultation with the NIDRR-funded National Center for
the Dissemination of Disability Research (NCDDR), a plan to disseminate
the RERC's research results to persons with disabilities, their
representatives, disability organizations, service providers,
professional journals, manufacturers, employers, and other interested
parties;
Each RERC must develop and implement in the first year of
the grant, in consultation with the NIDRR-funded RERC on Technology
Transfer, a plan for ensuring that all new and improved technologies
developed by this RERC are successfully transferred to the marketplace;
Each RERC must conduct a state-of-the-science conference
on its respective area of research in the third year of the grant and
publish a comprehensive report on the final outcomes of the conference
in the fourth year of the grant; and
Each RERC must coordinate with research projects of mutual
interest with relevant NIDRR-funded projects as identified through
consultation with the NIDRR project officer.
Each RERC must focus on one of the following priority topic areas:
(a) Universal Design and the Built Environment: This RERC must
research, develop, and evaluate strategies and devices that will
advance the field of universal design and assist designers, builders,
and manufacturers with incorporating universal design in their products
and buildings. This RERC also must research, develop and evaluate
methods and strategies that improve upon and expand current
anthropometric data collection practices and databases, both static and
dynamic (functional), pertaining to persons with disabilities. The
reference for this topic can be found in the Plan, chapter 5,
Technology for Access and Function: Systems Technology: Universal
Design and Accessibility.
(b) Telecommunications Access: This RERC must research and develop
technological solutions to promote universal access to
telecommunications systems and products including strategies for
integrating current accessibility features into newer generations of
telecommunications systems and products. The reference for this topic
can be found in the Plan, chapter 5, Technology for Access and
Function: Research to Improve Accessibility of Telecommunications and
Information Technology.
(c) Telerehabilitation: This RERC must research and develop
methods, systems, and technologies that support remote delivery of
rehabilitation and home health care services for individuals who have
limited local access to comprehensive medical and rehabilitation
outpatient services. The reference for this topic can be found in the
Plan, chapter 5, Technology for Access and Function: Research to
Improve Accessibility of Telecommunications and Information Technology.
(d) Cognitive Technologies: This RERC must research, develop, and
evaluate innovative technologies and approaches that will improve the
ability of individuals with significant cognitive disabilities to
function independently within their communities and workplaces. The
reference for this topic can be found in the Plan, chapter 5,
Technology for Access and Function: Research on Technology to Enhance
Cognitive Function.

Executive Order 12866

This notice of final priority 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 notice of final priority
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 final priority, we have determined
that the benefits of the final priority justify the costs.
Summary of potential costs and benefits: The potential costs
associated with this final priority are minimal while the benefits are
significant. Grantees may anticipate costs associated with completing
the application process in terms of staff time, copying, and mailing or
delivery. The use of e-Application technology reduces mailing and
copying costs significantly.
The benefits of the RERC program have been well established over
the years. Similar projects have generated new knowledge and
technologies.
The benefit of this final priority will be the establishment of new
RERCs, which can be expected to develop technological solutions that
will improve the lives of persons with disabilities and to contribute
substantially to the technical and scientific knowledge-base in the
topic areas.

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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:
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To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
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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 84.133E, Rehabilitation
Engineering Research Centers Program)

Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(b)(3).

Dated: May 26, 2004.
Troy R. Justesen,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services.

Appendix--Analysis of Comments and Changes

In response to our invitation in the NPP, we received 10
comments. An analysis of the comments and of the changes in the
priority since publication of the NPP 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.
Comments: One commenter believes the target audience for the
Universal Design and the Built Environment topic area should be
expanded beyond architects and interior designers to include
consumer product and package designers.
Discussion: An applicant may propose activities that include
consumer product and package designers. The peer review process will
be used to evaluate the merits of the proposal. However, NIDRR has
no basis for requiring that all applicants include consumer product
and package designers in their activities.
Changes: None.
Comments: One commenter believes the Universal Design and the
Built Environment topic area should require applicants to research,
develop, and evaluate innovative ways to present anthropometric data
so that designers are more likely to incorporate the information
into their designs.
Discussion: An applicant may propose activities that include
innovative ways to present anthropometric data. The peer review
process will evaluate the merits of the proposal. However, NIDRR has
no basis for requiring that all applicants include these activities.
Changes: None.
Comments: One commenter states that persons with cognitive
disabilities have been underserved by the universal design community
and believes the Universal Design and the Built Environment topic
area should require applicants to include the design needs of
persons with cognitive disabilities in their research and
development projects.
Discussion: The general concept behind universal design is to
design products and environments to be usable by all people, to the
greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptations or
special design. NIDRR expects this RERC to follow the Principles of
Universal Design and to include as many populations as possible,
including persons with cognitive disabilities in their research and
development projects. NIDRR agrees with the commenter that the
universal design community has been slow to include the design needs
of persons with cognitive disabilities. However, NIDRR has no basis
to require all applicants to identify persons with cognitive
disabilities as a target population for their respective research
and development projects. An applicant may propose this activity and
the peer review process will be used to evaluate the merits of the
proposal.
Changes: None.
Comments: One commenter asked for clarification regarding the
Universal Design and the Built Environment topic area requirement to
improve upon and expand current anthropometric data collection
practices and databases. The commenter wanted to know whether NIDRR
is simply looking to expand the database of reach ranges or whether
it is interested in collecting other anthropometric data that can be
used as a tool for designers of the built environment.
Discussion: NIDRR believes that in addition to creating a
database of reach ranges, there are many needs in the area of
anthropometry for persons with disabilities. An applicant could
propose activities that include collecting other types of
anthropometric data that can be used by designers and architects.
The peer review process will evaluate the merits of the proposal.
Changes: None.
Comments: Two commenters believe applicants responding to the
Cognitive Technologies topic area should be required to consider
incorporating the principles of universal design in their research
and development projects.
Discussion: An applicant could propose activities that
incorporate the principles of universal design. The peer review
process will evaluate the merits of the proposal. However, NIDRR has
no basis to determine that all applicants should be required to
incorporate the principles of universal design into all their
activities.
Changes: None.
Comments: One commenter believes that applicants responding to
the Cognitive Technologies topic area should be required to develop
simple and effective tools for applying clinical and technical
knowledge about diverse cognitive disabilities.
Discussion: An applicant could propose activities that include
development of simple and effective tools for applying clinical and
technical knowledge about diverse cognitive disabilities. The peer
review process will evaluate the merits of the proposal. However,
NIDRR has no basis for requiring that all applicants include these
activities.
Changes: None.
Comments: One commenter believes a RERC on Cognitive
Technologies must employ personnel with the requisite skills and
knowledge to understand the need for and, as appropriate, develop
individualized solutions for persons with cognitive disabilities.
Discussion: An applicant may propose activities that address the
need for and, as appropriate, develop individualized solutions for
persons with cognitive disabilities. The peer review process will
evaluate the merits of the proposal. However, NIDRR has no basis for
requiring that all applicants propose these activities.
Changes: None.
Comments: One commenter believes that the RERC on Cognitive
Technologies should disseminate RERC findings and information
through the National Resource Center for Traumatic Brain Injury.
Discussion: All RERCs are required to develop a dissemination
plan within the first year of their funding cycle. An applicant may
propose a plan to disseminate RERC findings and information through
the National Resource Center for Traumatic Brain Injury. The peer
review process will evaluate the merits of the proposal. However,
NIDRR has no basis to determine that all applicants should be
required to disseminate findings through this group.
Changes: None.
Comments: One commenter believes that people with cognitive
disabilities should be involved in the research and design of a RERC
on Cognitive Technologies. However, communication problems and
difficulty with memory and thought organization experienced by many
people with cognitive disabilities will require investigators to
explore new methods for participatory research.
Discussion: All RERCs are required to develop and implement in
the first three months of their funding cycle a plan to include, as
appropriate, individuals with disabilities or their representatives
in all phases of center activities including research, development,
training, dissemination, and evaluation.
Changes: None.
Comments: One commenter noted that the Telecommunications Access
topic area included a requirement to provide technical assistance to
public and private organizations, persons with disabilities, and
employers on policies, guidelines, and standards that affect the
accessibility of telecommunications technology products and systems.
The commenter stated that this requirement should be mandatory for
all RERCs and not just the one that focuses on Telecommunications
Access.

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Discussion: NIDRR agrees with the commenter that every RERC
should provide technical assistance to public and private
organizations, persons with disabilities, and employers on policies,
guidelines, and standards that affect their respective areas of
research.
Changes: The fifth required activity for a RERC under each of
the priority topics has been changed so that it reads: ``Provide
technical assistance to public and private organizations, persons
with disabilities, and employers on policies, guidelines, and
standards that affect its respective area of research.'' The final
priority topic area, Telecommunications Access, has been modified to
reflect this change by removing the second sentence.
Comments: One commenter suggested that there are both off-the-
shelf and emerging technologies that have not been explored and that
RERCs would benefit from looking to these technologies prior to
proposing new, but similar, research and development projects.
Discussion: An applicant may propose activities that mine
existing off-the-shelf and emerging technologies. The peer review
process will be used to evaluate the merits of the proposal.
However, NIDRR has no basis for requiring that all applicants
propose these activities.
Changes: None.
Comments: Several commenters expressed concerns that research on
the built environment and anthropometric data collection and
databases represent distinct areas that should be addressed in
separate priorities. These commenters believed that research on the
built environment is not being addressed adequately through other
current NIDRR projects and that including anthropometric research
diverts attention from the built environment.
Discussion: NIDRR believes that the two topics are closely
linked and therefore should be included under one RERC. An applicant
could propose more activity on the built environment and less on
anthropometric research as long as requirements that both topic
areas are addressed are met. The peer review process will be used to
evaluate the merits of the proposal.
Changes: None.
[FR Doc. 04-12252 Filed 5-27-04; 8:45 am]

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