[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 49 (Friday, March 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13378-13382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05333]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Community Living
Proposed priorities; National Institute on Disability,
Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research; Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects Program
AGENCY: Administration for Community Living, HHS.
CFDA Number: 84.133A-5 and 84.133A-6.
ACTION: Notice of Proposed priorities.
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SUMMARY: The Administrator of the Administration for Community Living
proposes priorities for the Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Projects (DRRPs) Program administered by the National Institute on
Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
Specifically, this notice proposes priorities for a Center on Knowledge
Translation for Employment Research and Projects for Translating
Disability and Rehabilitation Research into Practice. We take this
action to focus research attention on areas of national need. We intend
these priorities to contribute to improved outcomes for people with
disabilities through improved uptake of
[[Page 13379]]
research-based knowledge generated by NIDILRR-sponsored research.
DATES: We must receive your comments on or before April 13, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal
or via postal mail, or commercial delivery. We will not accept comments
submitted by fax or by email or those submitted after the comment
period. To ensure that we do not receive duplicate copies, please
submit your comments only once. In addition, please include the Docket
ID at the top of your comments.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov to
submit your comments electronically. Information on using
Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing agency documents,
submitting comments, and viewing the docket, is available on the site
under ``Are you new to the site?''
Postal Mail or Commercial Delivery: If you mail or deliver
your comments about these proposed regulations, address them to
Patricia Barrett, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 400
Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5142, Potomac Center Plaza (PCP), Washington,
DC 20202-2700.
Privacy Note:
The Department's policy is to make all comments received from
members of the public available for public viewing in their entirety
on the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov. Therefore,
commenters should be careful to include in their comments only
information that they wish to make publicly available.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Barrett. Telephone: (202)
245-6211 or by email: [email protected].
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice of proposed priority is in
concert with NIDRR's currently approved Long-Range Plan (Plan). The
Plan, which was published in the Federal Register on April 4, 2013 (78
FR 20299), can be accessed on the Internet at the following site:
www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/nidrr/policy.html.
The Plan identifies a need for research and training regarding
employment, community living and participation, and health and function
of individuals with disabilities. To address this need, NIDILRR seeks
to: (1) Improve the quality and utility of disability and
rehabilitation research; (2) foster an exchange of research findings,
expertise, and other information to advance knowledge and understanding
of the needs of individuals with disabilities and their family members,
including those from among traditionally underserved populations; (3)
determine effective practices, programs, and policies to improve
community living and participation, employment, and health and function
outcomes for individuals with disabilities of all ages; (4) identify
research gaps and areas for promising research investments; (5)
identify and promote effective mechanisms for integrating research and
practice; and (6) disseminate research findings to all major
stakeholder groups, including individuals with disabilities and their
family members in formats that are appropriate and meaningful to them.
This notice proposes two priorities that NIDILRR intends to use for
one or more competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2015 and possibly later
years. NIDILRR is under no obligation to make an award under these
priorities. The decision to make an award will be based on the quality
of applications received and available funding. NIDILRR may publish
additional priorities, as needed.
Invitation to Comment: We invite you to submit comments regarding
these proposed priorities. To ensure that your comments have maximum
effect in developing the final priorities, we urge you to identify
clearly the specific topic within each priority that each comment
addresses.
We invite you to assist us in complying with the specific
requirements of Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 and their overall
requirement of reducing regulatory burden that might result from these
proposed priorities. Please let us know of any further ways we could
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 by following the instructions found under the ``Are you new to
the site?'' portion of the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
www.regulations.gov. Any comments sent to NIDILRR via postal mail or
commercial delivery can be viewed in Room 5142, 550 12th Street SW.,
PCP, Washington, DC, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.,
Washington, DC time, Monday through Friday of each week except Federal
holidays.
Assistance to Individuals with Disabilities in Reviewing the
Rulemaking Record: On request we will provide an appropriate
accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability who
needs assistance to review the comments or other documents in the
public rulemaking record for this notice. If you want to schedule an
appointment for this type of accommodation or auxiliary aid, please
contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program is 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 to improve the effectiveness of services authorized
under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Rehabilitation Act).
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects
The purpose of NIDILRR's DRRPs, which are funded through the
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, is
to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the
Rehabilitation Act 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 significant 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,
training, demonstration, development, utilization, dissemination, 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). Additional information on
the DRRP program can be found at: www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/res-program.html#DRRP.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(a).
Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 350.
Proposed Priorities
This notice contains two proposed priorities.
[[Page 13380]]
Proposed Priority 1: Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment
Research
Background
There continues to be a wide disparity in employment rates between
individuals with and without disabilities. As of October 2014, the
employment rate for individuals with disabilities was 17.7 percent
while that of individuals without disabilities was 65.2 percent (U.S.
Department of Labor, 2014). This disparity in employment rates is seen
across all age groups and for both men and women.
Using the best available research findings to inform practice and
policy can contribute to improvements in outcomes for individuals with
disabilities (Dijkers, 2009). While there are research findings in
several areas related to the employment of individuals with
disabilities, the use of those findings in the disability employment
field to improve employment practices, policies, systems, and outcomes
is not optimal (Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment research
[SEDL], 2011).
The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) has adopted the conceptual framework
of knowledge translation (KT) to help promote the effective use of
research findings. Within the disability employment context, KT refers
to a multidimensional, active process of ensuring that new knowledge
and products gained via research and development reach practitioners,
employers, policy makers, and individuals with disabilities and others;
are understood by these audiences; and are used to improve the
employment and participation outcomes of individuals with disabilities.
KT is built upon continuing interactions and partnerships within and
between different groups of knowledge creators and users. Using KT to
facilitate partnerships between researchers and key stakeholders in the
field of disability employment research is critical, given the limited
experience that employers have with hiring, maintaining, and promoting
individuals with disabilities. At the same time, potential employees
with disabilities have a relative lack of experience in the paid labor
force. KT strategies can be used to promote the use of research-based
knowledge among employers, potential employees with disabilities,
employment service providers, and other stakeholders as they seek to
improve employment outcomes among individuals with disabilities.
The promise of KT for influencing employment practice and outcomes
has yet to be fulfilled because there is still limited information
available related to effective strategies for knowledge translation in
the disability employment context (e.g., Becker et al., 2007; Graham et
al., 2013; Hall et al., 2014). Thus, NIDILRR aims to sponsor research
to identify or develop KT strategies that are designed to promote the
use of disability employment research findings to improve employment
outcomes of individuals with disabilities.
References
Becker, D.R., Baker, S.R., Carlson, L., Flint, L., Howell, R.,
Lindsay, S., Moore, M., Reeder, S., & Drake, R.E. (2007). Critical
strategies for implementing supported employment. Journal of
Vocational Rehabilitation, 27(1), 13-20.
Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment Research (2011).
Promising and proven practices in employment. Retrieved from http://kter.org/products/Promising_Proven_Practices_0411.pdf.
Dijkers, M.P.J.M. for the NCDDR Task Force on Systematic Review
and Guidelines. (2009). When the best is the enemy of the good: The
nature of research evidence used in systematic reviews and
guidelines. Austin, TX: SEDL.
Graham, C., Inge, K., Wehman, P., Murphy, K., Revell, W.G., &
West, M. (2013). Moving employment research into practice: Knowledge
and application of evidence-based practices by State vocational
rehabilitation agency staff. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation
39(1), 75-81.
Hall, A., Bose, J., Winsor, J., & Migliore, A. (2014). Knowledge
translation in job development: Strategies for involving families.
Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 27(5),
489-492.
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014).
Table A6. Employment status of the civilian population by sex, age,
and disability status, not seasonally adjusted. Retrieved from
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t06.htm.
Proposed Priority 1
Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment Research
The Administrator of the Administration for Community Living
proposes a priority for a Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Project to serve as the Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment
Research (Center). The purpose of the proposed Center on KT for
Employment Research is to promote the use of employment research
findings to improve practices and policies that support improved
employment outcomes of individuals with disabilities. The center will
achieve this purpose by (1) working with employment-focused NIDILRR
grantees to identify research findings that can be used to improve
employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities, (2) identifying
areas in which stakeholders' needs for research-based knowledge are
most pressing, and (3) investigating and promoting effective strategies
to increase the appropriate use of the best available research-based
knowledge in the field.
Under this priority, the Center must be designed to contribute to
the following outcomes:
(a) Increased understanding of processes and practices that will
lead to successful knowledge translation in the field of employment for
individuals with disabilities;
(b) Increased adoption and use of relevant research findings funded
by NIDILRR and other entities, to improve employment of individuals
with disabilities; and
(c) Increased capacity of NIDILRR's employment-focused grantees to
plan and engage in knowledge translation activities.
The Center must contribute to these outcomes by conducting rigorous
research, development, technical assistance, dissemination, and
utilization activities to increase successful knowledge translation of
employment research to improve employment of individuals with
disabilities. In planning and conducting all activities, the Center
must partner with relevant stakeholders such as employment-focused
researchers, individual with disabilities, consumer organizations,
employers, State and Federal agencies, and others as appropriate.
Proposed Priority 2: Projects for Translating Disability and
Rehabilitation Research into Practice.
Background
A critical part of the mission of the National Institute on
Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) is
promoting the effective use of new research-based knowledge to improve
the outcomes of individuals with disabilities. NIDILRR has adopted the
conceptual framework of knowledge translation to help guide its efforts
to promote the effective use of research-based knowledge. Knowledge
translation in the NIDILRR context refers to a multidimensional, active
process of ensuring that new knowledge and products gained via research
and development are relevant to the users' needs, reach intended users;
are understood by these users; and are used to improve participation of
individuals with disabilities in society.
NIDILRR has increasingly emphasized the importance of translating
research-based findings and products from
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NIDILRR-funded projects into practice, policy, or other uses by placing
knowledge translation requirements in all grant opportunity
announcements, and by funding a number of dedicated knowledge
translation centers to provide technical assistance to grantees in this
endeavor. These efforts have successfully promoted the use of new
research-based knowledge and products by facilitating the
identification of research questions that are relevant to the knowledge
needs of targeted users, incorporating user input into the planning and
implementation of research and development projects, and by
facilitating the dissemination of research-based findings and products
in usable formats.
However, grantees often complete their research or development
activities without sufficient time or funds to translate their
research-based findings into usable products, or to promote the use and
adoption of such findings by stakeholders. NIDILRR believes that a
funding program that provides additional time and resources for these
KT activities will help to further promote the use and adoption of
research-based findings and products from NIDILRR-funded work which
will, in turn, help to support its mission to improve the lives of
individuals with disabilities.
Proposed Priority: Projects for Translating Disability and
Rehabilitation Research into Practice.
The Administrator of the Administration for Community Living
proposes a priority for Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects
(DRRP). These DRRP grants will serve as Projects for Translating
Disability and Rehabilitation Research into Practice. The purpose of
these projects is to support the translation of research findings or
products of past or present NIDILRR-funded grants into use or adoption
by their stakeholders. Under this priority, grantees must successfully
move NIDILRR-sponsored research-based findings or products into actual
use or adoption in real-life contexts. Grantees under this priority
must also document and disseminate the knowledge translation methods
that they used to facilitate the adoption or use of findings or
products by stakeholders.
Each knowledge translation grant under this priority must be
conducted in partnership with relevant stakeholders. These stakeholders
must be actively engaged in the planning, implementation, and
evaluation of all knowledge translation grant activities. Grantees
under this priority must contribute to the following outcomes:
(1) Use or adoption of NIDILRR-sponsored findings or products by
relevant stakeholders;
(2) Changes in policy, practice, or systems that are intended to
improve the lives of individuals with disabilities as a result of the
use or adoption of NIDILRR-sponsored findings or products; and
(3) Increased understanding of promising practices for knowledge
translation in disability, independent living, and rehabilitation
research.
Grantees under this priority must contribute to these outcomes by--
(a) Identifying research-based findings or products from a NIDILRR-
funded grant or grants that are ready for use or adoption in real-world
settings, as well as the context or setting in which they will be used
or adopted;
(b) Identifying or developing, and then implementing a knowledge
translation plan to facilitate the use or adoption of findings or
products in (a) by key stakeholders; and
(c) Identifying measures to evaluate the success of the uses or
adoptions achieved under (b).
Final Priorities
We will announce the final priorities in a notice 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 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 these priorities, we invite applications
through a notice in the Federal Register or in a Funding Opportunity
Announcement posted at www.grants.gov.
Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
Regulatory Impact Analysis
Under Executive Order 12866, the Secretary must determine whether
this regulatory action is ``significant'' and, therefore, subject to
the requirements of the Executive Order and subject to review by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Section 3(f) of Executive Order
12866 defines a ``significant regulatory action'' as an action likely
to result in a rule that may--
(1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more,
or adversely affect a sector of the economy, productivity, competition,
jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or
tribal governments or communities in a material way (also referred to
as an ``economically significant'' rule);
(2) Create serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an
action taken or planned by another agency;
(3) Materially alter the budgetary impacts of entitlement grants,
user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients
thereof; or
(4) Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal
mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles stated in the
Executive Order.
This proposed regulatory action is not a significant regulatory
action subject to review by OMB under section 3(f) of Executive Order
12866.
We have also reviewed this regulatory action under Executive Order
13563, which supplements and explicitly reaffirms the principles,
structures, and definitions governing regulatory review established in
Executive Order 12866. To the extent permitted by law, Executive Order
13563 requires that an agency--
(1) Propose or adopt regulations only upon a reasoned determination
that their benefits justify their costs (recognizing that some benefits
and costs are difficult to quantify);
(2) Tailor its regulations to impose the least burden on society,
consistent with obtaining regulatory objectives and taking into
account--among other things and to the extent practicable--the costs of
cumulative regulations;
(3) In choosing among alternative regulatory approaches, select
those approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential
economic, environmental, public health and safety, and other
advantages; distributive impacts; and equity);
(4) To the extent feasible, specify performance objectives, rather
than the behavior or manner of compliance a regulated entity must
adopt; and
(5) Identify and assess available alternatives to direct
regulation, including economic incentives--such as user fees or
marketable permits--to encourage the desired behavior, or provide
information that enables the public to make choices.
Executive Order 13563 also requires an agency ``to use the best
available techniques to quantify anticipated present and future
benefits and costs as accurately as possible.'' The Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB has emphasized that these
techniques may include ``identifying changing future compliance costs
that might result from technological innovation or anticipated
behavioral changes.''
We are issuing these proposed priorities only upon a reasoned
determination that its benefits would justify its costs. In choosing
among
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alternative regulatory approaches, we selected those approaches that
would maximize net benefits. Based on the analysis that follows, the
Department believes that these proposed priorities are consistent with
the principles in Executive Order 13563.
We also have determined that this regulatory action would not
unduly interfere with State, local, and tribal governments in the
exercise of their governmental functions.
In accordance with both Executive Orders, the Department has
assessed the potential costs and benefits, both quantitative and
qualitative, of this regulatory action. The potential costs are those
resulting from statutory requirements and those we have determined as
necessary for administering the Department's programs and activities.
The benefits of the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects
and Centers Program have been well established over the years. Projects
similar to ones envisioned by the proposed priorities have been
completed successfully, and the proposed priorities would generate new
knowledge through research. The new DRRPs would generate, disseminate,
and promote the use of new information that would improve outcomes for
individuals with disabilities.
Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to Executive
Order 12372.
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: 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:
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Dated: March 3, 2015.
Kathy Greenlee,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-05333 Filed 3-12-15; 8:45 am]
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