[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 52 (Monday, March 18, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12001-12003]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6536]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Implementation of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as Amended
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of public meetings and request for written comments.
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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary announces a series of public meetings
and invites written comments on the programs administered by the Office
of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) under the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (the Act). During the public
meetings and through the submission of written comments, we encourage
individuals to comment on how well the objectives of the Act are being
accomplished and on any barriers to the effective implementation of the
Act. The purpose of these meetings and solicitation of written comments
is to provide feedback to OSERS about the implementation of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
Public Meetings
DATES, TIMES, AND ADDRESSES: We will hold public meetings according to
the following schedule:
1. Date: March 19, 2002, Time: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Location:
Metropolitan Hotel, Lexington Avenue and 51st Street, New York City,
NY.
2. Date: March 21, 2002, Time: 12:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Location:
Atlanta Marriott Marquis, 265 Peachtree Center Avenue, Atlanta, GA.
3. Date: March 25, 2002, Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Location: Holiday
Inn O'Hare, 5440 North River Road, Rosemont, IL.
4. Date: April 18, 2002, Time: 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Location:
Elihu Harris State Office Building, 1st Floor Auditorium, 1515 Clay
Street, Oakland, CA.
5. Date: May 9, 2002, Time: 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Location: Bachman
Therapeutic Recreation Center, 2750 Bachman Drive, Dallas, Texas.
6. Date: June 19, 2002, Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Location: U.S.
Department of Education, Barnard Auditorium, 400 Maryland Ave, SW.,
Washington, DC.
Participants: Those who wish to present comments on the
implementation of the Act at one of the public meetings must reserve
time on the agenda for that meeting by contacting the individuals
identified under RESERVATIONS AND ADDITIONAL MEETING INFORMATION.
Reservations for presenting comments will be accepted on a first-come,
first-served basis. Given the expected number of individuals interested
in providing comments at the meetings, reservations for presenting
comments should be made as soon as possible.
Participants will be allowed approximately 5 to 7 minutes to
present their comments, depending upon the number of individuals who
reserve time on the agenda. At the meeting, participants also are
encouraged to submit two written copies of their comments. RESERVATIONS
AND ADDITIONAL MEETING INFORMATION: All individuals attending the
public meetings, including those presenting comments, must make
reservations by contacting the following individuals:
New York: Richard Anderson, U.S. Department of Education,
Rehabilitation Services Administration, Region II, c/o NYC Board of
Education, 65 Court Street, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201; (voice)
(718) 935-5650; (fax) (718) 935-5584; (Federal Information Relay
[[Page 12002]]
Service) 1-800-877-8339; (e-mail) [email protected].
Atlanta: Diane McCuen, Assistant Regional Commissioner, U.S.
Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, Region
IV, 61 Forsyth Street, Atlanta, GA 30303; (voice) (404) 562-6330; (fax)
(404) 562-6346; (TTY) (404) 562-6347; (e-mail) [email protected].
Chicago: Kathleen Niemi, U.S. Department of Education,
Rehabilitation Services Administration, 111 North Canal Street, Suite
1048, Chicago, IL 60606-7204; (voice) (312) 886-8623; (fax) (312) 353-
8623; (Federal Information Relay Service) 1-800-877-8339; (e-mail)
[email protected].
Oakland: Gilbert ``Doc'' Williams, Regional Commissioner, U.S.
Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, Region
IX, 50 United Nations Plaza, San Francisco, CA 94102-4987; (voice)
(415) 556-4070; (fax) (415) 437-7848; (TTY) (415) 437-7845; (e-mail)
[email protected].
Dallas: Michael Evans, U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation
Services Administration, Region VI, 1999 Bryan Street, Dallas, TX
75201-6817; (voice) (214) 880-4927; (fax) (214) 880-4931; (TTY) (214)
880-4933; (e-mail) [email protected].
Washington, DC: Tammy Nelson, U.S. Department of Education,
Rehabilitation Services Administration, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room
3214, Mary E. Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2531; (voice)
(202) 205-9005; (fax) (202) 260-7527; (TTY) (202) 205-5538; (e-mail)
[email protected].
In addition to making reservations, individuals attending any of
the public meetings, for security purposes, must be prepared to show
photo identification in order to enter the meeting location.
Assistance to Individuals With Disabilities at the Public Meetings
The meeting rooms and proceedings will be accessible to individuals
with disabilities. In addition, when making reservations, anyone
presenting comments at or attending a meeting who needs special
accommodations, such as sign language interpreters, Braille materials,
and communication access real-time transcription, should inform the
previously listed individual of his or her specific accessibility
needs. You should make requests for accommodations at least 10 working
days prior to the scheduled meeting date. Although we will attempt to
meet a request we receive after that date, we may not be able to make
available the requested auxiliary aid or service because of
insufficient time to arrange it.
Request for Written Comments
In addition to soliciting input during the public meetings, we
invite the public to submit written comments on the Act to assist OSERS
in identifying issues relating to the effective implementation of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
DATES: We would like to receive your written comments on the Act by
June 30, 2002.
ADDRESSES: Submit all comments to Joanne Wilson, Commissioner,
Rehabilitation Services Administration, using one of the following
methods:
1. Internet. We encourage you to send your comments through the
Internet to the following address: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/RSA/Policy/Legislation/rehabact_comments.html.
2. Mail. You may submit your comments to Commissioner Wilson at
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3028 Mary
E. Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2531.
3. Facsimile. You may submit comments by facsimile at (202) 205-
9252 (main OSERS fax).
Written and Public Comments
Participants in the public meetings and individuals submitting
written comments to OSERS are encouraged to comment on any of the
provisions of the Act--titles I, II, III, VI, VII, and section 509--for
which OSERS is responsible. We are particularly interested in comments
from persons with disabilities, their family members and advocates, and
those entities and individuals serving persons with disabilities under
the Act.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beverlee Stafford, U.S. Department of
Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, 400 Maryland Avenue,
SW., room 3213, Mary E. Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2550.
Telephone (202) 205-8831 or via Internet: [email protected]. If
you use a telecommunications device for the deaf, you may call (202)
205-5538.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of this notice in
an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or
computer diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the
previous paragraph.
Availability of Copies of the Act: You may obtain an electronic
copy of the Act on the Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/RSA/Policy/Legislation/rehabact.doc.
We encourage individuals who need copies of the Act to obtain
copies via the Internet. However, for those individuals who are unable
to access the Internet and are attending one of the public meetings,
copies of the Act are available by contacting the appropriate
individual identified under RESERVATIONS AND ADDITIONAL MEETING
INFORMATION. Other individuals who are unable to access the Internet
may obtain a copy of the Act by calling (202) 205-8299.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the Act in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the contact number listed in the previous
paragraph.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
Background and Description of the Act
The Act (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.) was reauthorized on August 7, 1998,
as title IV of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Pub. L. 105-220.
Section 2 of the Act specifies that the purposes of the Act are to--
Empower individuals with disabilities to maximize
employment, economic self-sufficiency, independence, and inclusion and
integration into society, through--statewide workforce investment
systems (under title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998) that
include, as integral components, comprehensive and coordinated state-
of-the-art programs of vocational rehabilitation; independent living
centers and services; research; training; demonstration projects; and
the guarantee of equal opportunity; and
Ensure that the Federal Government plays a leadership role
in promoting the employment of individuals with disabilities,
especially individuals with significant disabilities, and in assisting
States and providers of services in fulfilling the aspirations of those
individuals with disabilities for meaningful and gainful employment and
independent living.
The Act includes the following seven titles:
Title I of the Act establishes the State Vocational Rehabilitation
Services Program, which supports the Federal-State partnership for
providing vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with
disabilities seeking to achieve employment in the integrated labor
market. The Act requires that, in the event services cannot be provided
to all eligible individuals with disabilities who apply, States must
give priority to individuals with the most significant disabilities.
Each State is required to determine which individuals are ``individuals
with the most significant disabilities'' and, therefore, given a
priority for services in that State.
[[Page 12003]]
Additionally, each State vocational rehabilitation agency that is
not a consumer-controlled independent commission primarily concerned
with rehabilitation is also required to establish a State
Rehabilitation Council (SRC) to review, analyze, and advise the
vocational rehabilitation agency regarding the performance of its
responsibilities under the Act and to work in partnership with the
vocational rehabilitation agency in, among other things, developing the
vocational rehabilitation agency's goals and priorities and evaluating
the effectiveness of the vocational rehabilitation program. Given the
composition requirements of the SRC, the SRC ensures that individuals
with disabilities and other stakeholders have input in the vocational
rehabilitation agency's policies and practices.
Title I of the Act also includes the authorization for the Client
Assistance Program and the American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation
Services Program. The American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation
Services Program provides discretionary grants to governing bodies of
Indian Tribes to establish projects that serve American Indians with
disabilities on or near reservations. The Client Assistance Program
provides formula grants to States for information, referral, advice,
and advocacy services to individuals with disabilities who are applying
for or receiving services funded under the Act.
Title II of the Act establishes NIDRR and authorizes research and
related activities. NIDRR administers a program of rehabilitation
research, including rehabilitation research and training centers,
rehabilitation engineering research centers, research and demonstration
projects, field-initiated projects, utilization and dissemination
projects, fellowships, and research training grants.
Title III authorizes personnel training programs and service
projects. Training grants are authorized to assist in increasing the
number and skills of qualified personnel who provide services to
individuals with disabilities. The training program supports pre-
service training at degree-granting institutions, experimental and
innovative training, continuing education programs, in-service training
for personnel of State vocational rehabilitation agencies, and training
of interpreters for individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and
individuals who are deaf-blind.
Title III also authorizes projects for migrants and seasonal
farmworkers, recreational programs for individuals with disabilities,
parent training, client choice demonstrations, and special
demonstration programs.
Title IV of the Act establishes the National Council on Disability.
The National Council on Disability is an independent Federal agency
whose duties include providing advice to Congress and the President on
the development of programs under the Act and reviewing and evaluating,
on a continuing basis, all policies and programs for individuals with
disabilities conducted or assisted by the Federal Government.
Section 509 authorizes the Protection and Advocacy of Individual
Rights Program, which supports a system in each State to protect the
human and legal rights of individuals with disabilities who need
services that are beyond the scope of the Client Assistance Program and
who are not eligible for services from other protection and advocacy
programs.
Title VI of the Act authorizes the Projects With Industry and
Supported Employment State Grants programs. The primary goal of the
discretionary Projects With Industry grant program is to expand job
opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the competitive
labor market. In order to develop a partnership between business,
industry, labor, and the rehabilitation community, each project is
required to have a Business Advisory Council to provide advice on
available jobs and training requirements.
Supported Employment State Grants is a formula grant program to
assist States in developing collaborative programs with public agencies
and nonprofit organizations to provide training and other services
leading to supported employment for individuals with the most
significant disabilities.
Title VII of the Act authorizes funding in Chapter 1 for
comprehensive services for independent living and independent living
centers, and in Chapter 2 for independent living services for older
persons who are blind or have a significant visual impairment. Each
State must establish a State Independent Living Council that jointly
prepares and submits the required State plan for Chapter 1 independent
living services and the State's network of centers for independent
living.
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:
www.ed.gov/legislation/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.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 701, et seq.
Dated: March 14, 2002.
Loretta L. Petty,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and, Rehabilitative
Services.
[FR Doc. 02-6536 Filed 3-15-02; 8:45 am]
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