29 U.S.C. § 3005 : US Code - Section 3005: National activities

Search 29 U.S.C. § 3005 : US Code - Section 3005: National activities

(a) In general
In order to support activities designed to improve the
administration of this chapter, the Secretary, under subsection (b)
-
(1) may award, on a competitive basis, grants, contracts, and
cooperative agreements to entities to support activities
described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b); and
(2) shall award, on a competitive basis, grants, contracts, and
cooperative agreements to entities to support activities
described in paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) of subsection (b).
(b) Authorized activities
(1) National public-awareness toolkit
(A) National public-awareness toolkit
The Secretary may award a 1-time grant, contract, or
cooperative agreement to an eligible entity to support a
training and technical assistance program that -
(i) expands public-awareness efforts to reach targeted
individuals and entities;
(ii) contains appropriate accessible multimedia materials
to reach targeted individuals and entities, for dissemination
to State assistive technology programs; and
(iii) in coordination with State assistive technology
programs, provides meaningful and up-to-date information to
targeted individuals and entities about the availability of
assistive technology devices and assistive technology
services.
(B) Eligible entity
To be eligible to receive the grant, contract, or cooperative
agreement, an entity shall develop a partnership that -
(i) shall consist of -
(I) a lead agency or implementing entity for a State
assistive technology program or an organization or
association that represents implementing entities for State
assistive technology programs;
(II) a private or public entity from the media industry;
(III) a private entity from the assistive technology
industry; and
(IV) a private employer or an organization or association
that represents private employers;
(ii) may include other entities determined by the Secretary
to be necessary; and
(iii) may include other entities determined by the
applicant to be appropriate.
(2) Research and development
(A) In general
The Secretary may award grants, contracts, or cooperative
agreements to eligible entities to carry out research and
development of assistive technology that consists of -
(i) developing standards for reliability and accessibility
of assistive technology, and standards for interoperability
(including open standards) of assistive technology with
information technology, telecommunications products, and
other assistive technology; or
(ii) developing assistive technology that benefits
individuals with disabilities or developing technologies or
practices that result in the adaptation, maintenance,
servicing, or improvement of assistive technology devices.
(B) Eligible entities
Entities eligible to receive a grant, contract, or
cooperative agreement under this paragraph shall include -
(i) providers of assistive technology services and
assistive technology devices;
(ii) institutions of higher education, including University
Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
Education, Research, and Service authorized under subtitle D
of title I of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and
Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15061 et seq.), or such
institutions offering rehabilitation engineering programs,
computer science programs, or information technology
programs;
(iii) manufacturers of assistive technology devices; and
(iv) professionals, individuals, organizations, and
agencies providing services or employment to individuals with
disabilities.
(C) Collaboration
An entity that receives a grant, contract, or cooperative
agreement under this paragraph shall, in developing and
implementing the project carried out through the grant,
contract, or cooperative agreement coordinate activities with
the lead agency for the State assistive technology program (or
a national organization that represents such programs) and the
State advisory council described in section 3003(c)(2) of this
title (or a national organization that represents such
councils).
(3) State training and technical assistance
(A) Training and technical assistance efforts
The Secretary shall award a grant, contract, or cooperative
agreement to an entity to support a training and technical
assistance program that -
(i) addresses State-specific information requests
concerning assistive technology from entities funded under
this chapter and public entities not funded under this
chapter, including -
(I) requests for information on effective approaches to
Federal-State coordination of programs for individuals with
disabilities, related to improving funding for or access to
assistive technology devices and assistive technology
services for individuals with disabilities of all ages;
(II) requests for state-of-the-art, or model, Federal,
State, and local laws, regulations, policies, practices,
procedures, and organizational structures, that facilitate,
and overcome barriers to, funding for, and access to,
assistive technology devices and assistive technology
services;
(III) requests for information on effective approaches to
developing, implementing, evaluating, and sustaining
activities described in sections 3003 and 3004 of this
title and related to improving funding for or access to
assistive technology devices and assistive technology
services for individuals with disabilities of all ages, and
requests for assistance in developing corrective action
plans;
(IV) requests for examples of policies, practices,
procedures, regulations, or judicial decisions that have
enhanced or may enhance access to funding for assistive
technology devices and assistive technology services for
individuals with disabilities;
(V) requests for information on effective approaches to
the development of consumer-controlled systems that
increase access to, funding for, and awareness of,
assistive technology devices and assistive technology
services; and
(VI) other requests for training and technical assistance
from entities funded under this chapter and public and
private entities not funded under this chapter;
(ii) assists targeted individuals and entities by
disseminating information about -
(I) Federal, State, and local laws, regulations,
policies, practices, procedures, and organizational
structures, that facilitate, and overcome barriers to,
funding for, and access to, assistive technology devices
and assistive technology services, to promote fuller
independence, productivity, and inclusion in society for
individuals with disabilities of all ages; and
(II) technical assistance activities undertaken under
clause (i);
(iii) provides State-specific, regional, and national
training and technical assistance concerning assistive
technology to entities funded under this chapter, other
entities funded under this chapter, and public and private
entities not funded under this chapter, including -
(I) annually providing a forum for exchanging information
concerning, and promoting program and policy improvements
in, required activities of the State assistive technology
programs;
(II) facilitating onsite and electronic information
sharing using state-of-the-art Internet technologies such
as real-time online discussions, multipoint video
conferencing, and web-based audio/video broadcasts, on
emerging topics that affect State assistive technology
programs;
(III) convening experts from State assistive technology
programs to discuss and make recommendations with regard to
national emerging issues of importance to individuals with
assistive technology needs;
(IV) sharing best practice and evidence-based practices
among State assistive technology programs;
(V) maintaining an accessible website that includes a
link to State assistive technology programs, appropriate
Federal departments and agencies, and private associations
and developing a national toll-free number that links
callers from a State with the State assistive technology
program in their State;
(VI) developing or utilizing existing (as of the date of
the award involved) model cooperative volume-purchasing
mechanisms designed to reduce the financial costs of
purchasing assistive technology for required and
discretionary activities identified in section 3003 of this
title, and reducing duplication of activities among State
assistive technology programs; and
(VII) providing access to experts in the areas of
banking, microlending, and finance, for entities funded
under this chapter, through site visits, teleconferences,
and other means, to ensure access to information for
entities that are carrying out new programs or programs
that are not making progress in achieving the objectives of
the programs; and
(iv) includes such other activities as the Secretary may
require.
(B) Eligible entities
To be eligible to receive a grant, contract, or cooperative
agreement under this paragraph, an entity shall have (directly
or through grant or contract) -
(i) experience and expertise in administering programs,
including developing, implementing, and administering the
required and discretionary activities described in sections
3003 and 3004 of this title, and providing technical
assistance; and
(ii) documented experience in and knowledge about banking,
finance, and microlending.
(C) Collaboration
In developing and providing training and technical assistance
under this paragraph, including activities identified as
priorities, a recipient of a grant, contract, or cooperative
agreement under this paragraph shall collaborate with other
organizations, in particular -
(i) organizations representing individuals with
disabilities;
(ii) national organizations representing State assistive
technology programs;
(iii) organizations representing State officials and
agencies engaged in the delivery of assistive technology;
(iv) the data-collection and reporting providers described
in paragraph (5); and
(v) other providers of national programs or programs of
national significance funded under this chapter.
(4) National information Internet system
(A) In general
The Secretary shall award a grant, contract, or cooperative
agreement to an entity to renovate, update, and maintain the
National Public Internet Site established under this chapter
(as in effect on the day before October 25, 2004).
(B) Features of Internet site
The National Public Internet Site shall contain the following
features:
(i) Availability of information at any time
The site shall be designed so that any member of the public
may obtain information posted on the site at any time.
(ii) Innovative automated intelligent agent
The site shall be constructed with an innovative automated
intelligent agent that is a diagnostic tool for assisting
users in problem definition and the selection of appropriate
assistive technology devices and assistive technology
services resources.
(iii) Resources
(I) Library on assistive technology
The site shall include access to a comprehensive working
library on assistive technology for all environments,
including home, workplace, transportation, and other
environments.
(II) Information on accommodating individuals with
disabilities
The site shall include access to evidence-based research
and best practices concerning how assistive technology can
be used to accommodate individuals with disabilities in the
areas of education, employment, health care, community
living, and telecommunications and information technology.
(III) Resources for a number of disabilities
The site shall include resources relating to the largest
possible number of disabilities, including resources
relating to low-level reading skills.
(iv) Links to private-sector resources and information
To the extent feasible, the site shall be linked to
relevant private-sector resources and information, under
agreements developed between the recipient of the grant,
contract, or cooperative agreement and cooperating private-
sector entities.
(v) Links to public-sector resources and information
To the extent feasible, the site shall be linked to
relevant public-sector resources and information, such as the
Internet sites of the Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitation Services of the Department of Education, the
Office of Disability Employment Policy of the Department of
Labor, the Small Business Administration, the Architectural
and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, the Technology
Administration of the Department of Commerce, the Jobs
Accommodation Network funded by the Office of Disability
Employment Policy of the Department of Labor, and other
relevant sites.
(vi) Minimum library components
At a minimum, the site shall maintain updated information
on -
(I) State assistive technology program demonstration
sites where individuals may try out assistive technology
devices;
(II) State assistive technology program device loan
program sites where individuals may borrow assistive
technology devices;
(III) State assistive technology program device
reutilization program sites;
(IV) alternative financing programs or State financing
systems operated through, or independently of, State
assistive technology programs, and other sources of funding
for assistive technology devices; and
(V) various programs, including programs with tax
credits, available to employers for hiring or accommodating
employees who are individuals with disabilities.
(C) Eligible entity
To be eligible to receive a grant, contract, or cooperative
agreement under this paragraph, an entity shall be a nonprofit
organization, for-profit organization, or institution of higher
education, that -
(i) emphasizes research and engineering;
(ii) has a multidisciplinary research center; and
(iii) has demonstrated expertise in -
(I) working with assistive technology and intelligent
agent interactive information dissemination systems;
(II) managing libraries of assistive technology and
disability-related resources;
(III) delivering to individuals with disabilities
education, information, and referral services, including
technology-based curriculum-development services for adults
with low-level reading skills;
(IV) developing cooperative partnerships with the private
sector, particularly with private-sector computer software,
hardware, and Internet services entities; and
(V) developing and designing advanced Internet sites.
(5) Data-collection and reporting assistance
(A) In general
The Secretary shall award grants, contracts, and cooperative
agreements to entities to assist the entities in carrying out
State assistive technology programs in developing and
implementing effective data-collection and reporting systems
that -
(i) focus on quantitative and qualitative data elements;
(ii) measure the outcomes of the required activities
described in section 3003 of this title that are implemented
by the States and the progress of the States toward achieving
the measurable goals described in section 3003(d)(3) of this
title;
(iii) provide States with the necessary information
required under this chapter or by the Secretary for reports
described in section 3003(f)(2) of this title; and
(iv) help measure the accrued benefits of the activities to
individuals who need assistive technology.
(B) Eligible entities
To be eligible to receive a grant, contract, or cooperative
agreement under this paragraph, an entity shall have personnel
with -
(i) documented experience and expertise in administering
State assistive technology programs;
(ii) experience in collecting and analyzing data associated
with implementing required and discretionary activities;
(iii) expertise necessary to identify additional data
elements needed to provide comprehensive reporting of State
activities and outcomes; and
(iv) experience in utilizing data to provide annual reports
to State policymakers.
(c) Application
To be eligible to receive a grant, contract, or cooperative
agreement under this section, an entity shall submit an application
to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require.
(d) Input
With respect to the activities described in subsection (b) to be
funded under this section, including the national and regionally
based training and technical assistance efforts carried out through
the activities, in designing the activities the Secretary shall
consider, and in providing the activities providers shall include,
input of the directors of comprehensive statewide programs of
technology-related assistance, directors of alternative financing
programs, and other individuals the Secretary determines to be
appropriate, especially -
(1) individuals with disabilities who use assistive technology
and understand the barriers to the acquisition of such technology
and assistive technology services;
(2) family members, guardians, advocates, and authorized
representatives of such individuals;
(3) individuals employed by protection and advocacy systems
funded under section 3004 of this title;
(4) relevant employees from Federal departments and agencies,
other than the Department of Education;
(5) representatives of businesses; and
(6) venders and public and private researchers and developers.