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National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research--Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, etc.
Feb 14, 2012 (Education Department Documents and Publications/ContentWorks via COMTEX) --
Overview Information:
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research--Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program--Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project--Center on Knowledge Translation for Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.133A-13.
SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services announces a priority for the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program--Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project (DRRP) administered by the National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). Specifically, this notice announces a priority for a center on knowledge translation for disability and rehabilitation research (KTDRR Center). The Assistant Secretary may use this priority for a competition in fiscal year (FY) 2012 and later years. We take this action to focus research attention on areas of national need.
DATES: Effective Date: This priority is effective March 15, 2012.
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 email: marlene.spencer@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), 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 8166), can be accessed at the following Web site: 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) determine effective methods to improve community living, employment, and health outcomes for underserved populations; (3) identify research gaps; (4) identify mechanisms of integrating research and practice; and (5) disseminate findings.
This notice announces a priority that NIDRR intends to use for a DRRP competition in FY 2012 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 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 (DRRPs)
The purpose of DRRPs, which are funded under NIDRR's Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers 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, training, demonstration, development, dissemination, utilization, and technical assistance. Additional information on DRRPs can be found at: www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/res-program.
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 for this program in the Federal Register on June 7, 2011 (76 FR 32971). That notice contained background information and our reasons for proposing this particular priority.
Public Comment: In response to our invitation in the notice of proposed priority, four parties 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 comments and of any changes in the priority since publication of the notice of proposed priority follows.
Comment: Two commenters suggested that the priority focus on activities to promote the use of research findings to shape service delivery systems and to improve outcomes for individuals with disabilities. One of these commenters suggested that the priority focus specifically on service delivery systems for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Discussion: NIDRR agrees that service delivery systems for individuals with disabilities should be informed and shaped by disability and rehabilitation research in order to improve outcomes for individuals with disabilities. Nothing in the priority precludes applicants from specifically focusing on service delivery systems--including service delivery systems for individuals with developmental disabilities--in their knowledge translation work. Given the wide range of intended audiences of disability and rehabilitation research listed in the priority, NIDRR does not have a sufficient basis for requiring all applicants to focus specifically on service delivery systems or service delivery systems for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Changes: None.
Comment: Two commenters suggested that the priority be restructured as a network of smaller grants with the goal of disseminating disability and rehabilitation research to meet the information needs of a wide range of audiences.
Discussion: NIDRR does not agree that a network of smaller grants would better serve the wide range of intended audiences of disability and rehabilitation research. NIDRR intends the KTDRR Center to serve as the main knowledge translation (KT) resource for other NIDRR grantees, including NIDRR grantees that serve as KT Centers. NIDRR grantees conduct research on a broad range of disability and rehabilitation topics, and the results of NIDRR research are applicable to a wide range of audiences. Smaller grants would not be sufficient to ensure that grantees have the resources and levels of KT expertise that are necessary to increase the use of disability and rehabilitation research results by the wide range of intended audiences.
Changes: None.
Comment: One commenter suggested that the KTDRR Center actively consider business-specific information needs in order to promote employment for people with disabilities.
Discussion: NIDRR agrees that businesses and other types of employers are important audiences for a wide range of disability and rehabilitation research and that KT efforts should take their information needs into account. A significant percentage of NIDRR grants focus on employment of individuals with disabilities. The findings from these and other NIDRR grants are relevant to businesses and other types of employers and can potentially be used to promote employment among individuals with disabilities.
Changes: In the relevant paragraphs, paragraphs (a) and (b)(3), NIDRR has added "employers" to the suggested list of intended audiences of disability and rehabilitation research.
Comment: None
Discussion: NIDRR has determined that the requirement for the provision of technical assistance under paragraph (b)(1) is redundant with the more broadly stated technical assistance requirement under paragraph (b)(6).
Changes: NIDRR has deleted paragraph (b)(1), and re-numbered paragraph (b) accordingly.
Final Priority:
Priority--Center on Knowledge Translation for Disability and Rehabilitation Research (KTDRR Center)
The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services announces a priority for a center on knowledge translation for disability and rehabilitation research (KTDRR Center). The purpose of the KTDRR Center is to promote the use of high-quality disability and rehabilitation research that is relevant to the needs of intended audiences by serving as the main knowledge translation (KT) resource for other NIDRR grantees, including NIDRR grantees that serve as KT centers (NIDRR KT Centers). The KTDRR Center's work will also be available to researchers who are not NIDRR grantees, as well as to the public.
For purposes of this priority, KT refers to a multidimensional, active process of ensuring that new knowledge and products gained via research and development reach intended audiences; are understood by these audiences; and are used to improve participation of individuals with disabilities in society. KT encompasses all steps from the creation of new knowledge to the synthesis, dissemination, and implementation of such knowledge, and is built upon continuing interactions and partnerships within and between different groups of knowledge creators and users.
Under this priority, the KTDRR Center must contribute to the following outcomes:
(a) Increased use of valid and relevant disability and rehabilitation research findings to inform decision-making by individuals with disabilities and their family members, disability advocates, service providers, researchers, educators, employers, administrators, policy-makers, and others. The KTDRR Center must contribute to this outcome by--
--This is a summary of a Federal Register article originally published on the page number listed below--
Notice of final priority.
Citation: "77 FR 8234"
Federal Register Page Number: "8234"
"Notices"
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