[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 111 (Thursday, June 9, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33744-33745]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14345]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[CFDA Number: 84.133A-09]
Final Priority; National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)--Disability Rehabilitation Research
Project (DRRP)--Disability in the Family
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of final priority.
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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services announces a funding priority for the Disability
and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program administered
by NIDRR. Specifically, this notice announces a priority for a center
on disability in the family. The Assistant Secretary may use this
priority for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2011 and later years. We
take this action to focus research attention on areas of national need.
We intend this priority to contribute to increased participation and
community living within the context of family life for individuals with
disabilities and their families.
DATES: Effective Date: This priority is effective July 11, 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marlene Spencer, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5133, Potomac Center Plaza
(PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2700. Telephone: (202) 245-7532 or by e-
mail: [email protected].
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the
Federal Relay Service, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
This notice of final priority (NFP) is in concert with NIDRR's
currently approved Long-Range Plan (Plan). 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 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 the 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.
This notice announces a priority that NIDRR intends to use for DRRP
competitions in FY 2011 and possibly later years. However, nothing
precludes NIDRR from publishing additional priorities if needed.
Furthermore, NIDRR is under no obligation to make an award for this
priority. The decision to make an award will be based on the quality of
applications received and available funding.
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program is (1) to plan and
conduct research, demonstration projects, training, and related
activities, including international 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 (2) to improve the effectiveness of services
authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
(Rehabilitation Act).
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(a).
Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 350.
We published a notice of proposed priority (NPP) for this program
in the Federal Register on March 29, 2011 (76 FR 17403). That notice
contained background information and our reasons for proposing the
particular priority.
There are no differences between the proposed priority and this
final priority.
Public Comment: In response to our invitation in the notice of
proposed priority, one party submitted comments on the proposed
priority.
Generally, we do not address technical and other minor changes. In
addition, we do not address general comments that raised concerns not
directly related to the proposed priority.
Analysis of Comments and Changes: An analysis of the comment and of
any changes in the priority since publication of the notice of proposed
priority follows.
Comment: One commenter recommended that NIDRR require the DRRP on
Disability in the Family to partner with the network of Parent Training
and Information Centers that are funded by the Department's Office of
Special Education Programs (OSEP), as well as with the Parent Training
and Information Projects funded by the Department's Rehabilitation
Services Administration (RSA). The commenter stated that these
partnerships would ensure widespread dissemination of DRRP resources
and information.
Discussion: NIDRR agrees that these partnerships may help provide a
targeted means of dissemination to families that include at least one
member with a disability. Nothing in the priority precludes applicants
from proposing partnerships with OSEP's Parent Training and Information
Centers, or RSA's Parent Training and Information Projects. However,
NIDRR does not have a sufficient basis for requiring all applicants to
do so. Applicants under this priority have a large number of
stakeholder groups and organizations with whom they can collaborate.
NIDRR does not want to limit applicants' choices by requiring
partnerships with a particular type of entity.
Changes: None.
Final Priority
Priority--DRRP on Disability in the Family
The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services establishes a priority for a Disability and Rehabilitation
Research Project (DRRP) on Disability in the Family. The DRRP must
contribute to the outcome of increased participation and community
living for individuals with disabilities and their families.
To contribute to this outcome, the DRRP must--
[[Page 33745]]
1. Conduct research activities, development activities, or both;
2. Identify or develop, and test or evaluate interventions,
programs, technologies, or products;
3. Conduct knowledge translation activities (i.e., training,
technical assistance, utilization, dissemination) in order to
facilitate stakeholder (e.g., people with disabilities, families that
have at least one member with a disability) use of the interventions,
programs, technologies, or products that resulted from the research
activities, development activities, or both;
4. Involve key stakeholder groups in the activities described in
paragraphs 1 through 3 in order to maximize the relevance and usability
of the interventions, programs, technologies, or products to be
developed or studied; and
5. Include families who are from traditionally underserved
populations and who have at least one member with a disability as
participants when conducting the activities described in paragraphs 1
through 3.
To contribute to this outcome, the DRRP may--
1. Focus its activities at the individual level, the family level,
the systems level, or any combination of the three levels;
2. Include in its activities families with a person with a
disability of any age and any disability;
3. Interpret the term ``family'' broadly; and
4. Choose from a wide range of research and development topics and
approaches within any of the domains in NIDRR's currently approved Long
Range Plan (i.e., participation and community living, technology for
access and function, health and function, employment) in order to
contribute to the outcome goal of increased participation and community
living for individuals with disabilities and their families.
Types of Priorities
When inviting applications for a competition using one or more
priorities, we designate the type of each priority as absolute,
competitive preference, or invitational through a notice in the Federal
Register. 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 (1)
awarding additional points, depending on the extent to which the
application meets the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2)
selecting an application that meets the 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 priority.
However, we do not give an application that meets the priority a
preference over other applications (34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)).
This notice does not preclude us from proposing additional
priorities, requirements, definitions, or selection criteria, subject
to meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.
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.
Executive Order 12866: This notice 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 final regulatory
action.
The potential costs associated with this final regulatory action
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 final regulatory action, we have determined
that the benefits of the final priority justify the costs.
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. This final priority
will generate new knowledge through research, development, and
knowledge translation activities. Another benefit of this final
priority is that the establishment of a new DRRP will improve the lives
of individuals with disabilities and their family members. The new DRRP
will generate and promote the use of new information that will improve
the community living and community participation options for
individuals with disabilities and their families.
Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print,
audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the Grants and Contracts
Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
room 5075, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone:
(202) 245-7363. If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-
877-8339.
Electronic Access to This Document: 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 via the Federal Digital System
at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document,
as well as all other documents of this Department published in the
Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To
use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at
the site.
You may also access documents of the Department published in the
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: http://www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Dated: June 6, 2011.
Alexa Posny,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2011-14345 Filed 6-8-11; 8:45 am]
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