80 FR 10099 - Proposed Priority-National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research-Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Community Living

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 37 (February 25, 2015)

Page Range		10099-10102
FR Document		2015-03877

The Administrator of the Administration for Community Living proposes a priority for the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) Program administered by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). Specifically, this notice proposes a priority for an RRTC on Employer Practices Leading to Successful Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Disabilities. We take this action to focus research attention on an area of national need. We intend this priority to contribute to improved employment practices and successful employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 37 (Wednesday, February 25, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 37 (Wednesday, February 25, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10099-10102]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03877]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Community Living

[CFDA Number: 84.133B-1]

Proposed Priority--National Institute on Disability, Independent
Living, and Rehabilitation Research--Rehabilitation Research and
Training Centers

AGENCY: Administration for Community Living, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed priority.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Administrator of the Administration for Community Living
proposes a priority for the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center
(RRTC) Program administered by the National Institute on Disability,
Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
Specifically, this notice proposes a priority for an RRTC on Employer
Practices Leading to Successful Employment Outcomes for Individuals
with Disabilities. We take this action to focus research attention on
an area of national need. We intend this priority to contribute to
improved employment practices and successful employment outcomes for
individuals with disabilities.

DATES: We must receive your comments on or before March 27, 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: patricia.barrett@ed.gov.
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 NIDILRR'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 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 one priority 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 this
priority. 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
this proposed priority. To ensure that your comments have maximum
effect in developing the final priority, we urge you to identify
clearly the specific topic within the 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 this
proposed priority. 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
wwww.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 p.m.,
Washington, DC

[[Page 10100]]

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).

Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers

The purpose of the RRTCs, which are funded through the Disability
and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, is to achieve
the goals of, and improve the effectiveness of, services authorized
under the Rehabilitation Act through well-designed research, training,
technical assistance, and dissemination activities in important topical
areas as specified by NIDILRR. These activities are designed to benefit
rehabilitation service providers, individuals with disabilities, family
members, policymakers and other research stakeholders. Additional
information on the RRTC program can be found at: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/rrtc/index.html#types.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(b)(2).
Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 350.
Proposed Priority: This notice contains one proposed priority.

RRTC on Employer Practices Leading to Successful Employment Outcomes
for Individuals With Disabilities

Background: Individuals with disabilities experience lower rates
and quality of employment than those without disabilities. The
percentage of the population that is employed is lower for individuals
with disabilities (17.6%) than for individuals without disabilities
(64.0%), and this difference has been relatively stable since 2012
(U.S. Department of Labor, 2014a, 2014b). Of those individuals who are
employed, individuals with disabilities are more likely to work part
time (34%) than are individuals without disabilities (19%) (U.S.
Department of Labor, 2014a), and individuals with disabilities earn
less than do individuals without disabilities (Brault, 2012; Schur et
al., 2009; U.S. Department of Commerce, 2013). In addition, employees
with disabilities have more limited opportunities for experiences
related to retention and advancement, such as training and
participation in decision-making, and less job security (Schur et al.,
2009).
Although the employment of individuals with disabilities is the
result of a complex interaction among many variables, employer
practices comprise an important factor in the employment of individuals
with disabilities. In recent years, researchers (Bruy[egrave]re &
Barrington, 2012; Chan et al., 2010a) have recognized the importance of
considering demand-side, i.e., employer, variables to understand and
decrease the difference in employment outcomes between individuals with
and without disabilities. In addition, a number of Federal initiatives
have highlighted the need for employers to change their practices to
improve employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities (e.g.,
new regulations for Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, establishing
nationwide 7% employment goals for qualified individuals with
disabilities for companies doing business with the Federal government;
Executive Order 13548 (2010), ``Increasing Federal Employment of
Individuals with Disabilities'').
A number of employer practices are associated with better
employment outcomes (i.e., hiring, retention, or advancement) for
individuals with disabilities. These include, but are not limited to:
Employer knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the
inclusion of disability in employer diversity plans, diversity training
for management, targeted recruitment, and employer-provided
accommodations (Bruy[egrave]re & Barrington, 2012; Chan et al., 2010b;
Hirsh & Kmec, 2009; Schur et al., 2009). Factors associated with
employment of individuals with disabilities vary by employer size,
industry type, and sector of the economy (U.S. Department of Labor,
2008; Bruy[egrave]re & Barrington, 2012; Fraser et al., 2010).
However, knowledge of employer practices that are associated with
better employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities does not
tell us whether those practices actually caused those outcomes
(Bruy[egrave]re & Barrington, 2012; Fraser et al., 2011). In addition
to the need for a stronger evidence base for the effectiveness of
promising employer practices, there is a need for the development of
measures that employers can use to track employment outcomes for
individuals with disabilities (Erickson et al., 2013; Von Schrader et
al., 2013). Both of these types of knowledge are critical to the
development of effective workplace programs and practices to improve
employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

References

Brault, M. W. (2012). Americans with disabilities: 2010. U.S.
Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, US
Census Bureau.
Bruy[egrave]re, S. M., & Barrington, L. (2012). Current issues,
controversies, and solutions. In S.M. Bruy[egrave]re and L.
Barrington, (Eds.), Employment and work. Sage Publications.
Chan, F., Strauser, D., Gervey, R., & Lee, E-J. (2010a).
Introduction to demand-side factors related to employment of people
with disabilities. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 20, 407-
411.
Chan, F., Straser, D., Maher, P., Lee, E-J., Jones, R., & Johnson,
E. T. (2010b). Demand-side factors related to employment of people
with disabilities: A survey of employers in the Midwest region of
the United Sates. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 20, 412-
419.
Erickson, W. A., von Schrader, S., Bruy[egrave]re, S. M., & VanLooy,
S. A. (2013). The employment environment: Employer perspectives,
policies, and practices regarding the employment of persons with
disabilities. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 0034355213509841.
Exec. Order No. 13548, 3 C. F. R. 168 (2010).
Fraser, R. T., Johnson, K., Hebert, J., Ajzen, I., Copeland, J.,
Brown, P., & Chan, F. (2010). Understanding employers' hiring
intentions in relation to qualified workers with disabilities:
Preliminary findings. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 20(4),
420-426.
Fraser, R., Ajzen, I., Johnson, K., Hebert, J., & Chan, F. (2011).
Understanding employers' hiring intention in relation to qualified
workers with disabilities. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation,
35(1), 1-11.
Hirsh, E., & Kmec, J. A. (2009). Human resource structures: Reducing
discrimination or raising rights awareness?. Industrial Relations: A
Journal of Economy and Society, 48(3), 512-532.

[[Page 10101]]

Schur, L., Kruse, D., Blasi, J., & Blanck, P. (2009). Is disability
disabling in all workplaces? Workplace disparities and corporate
culture. Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society,
48(3), 381-410.
Von Schrader, S., Malzer, V., & Bruy[egrave]re, S. (2013).
Perspectives on disability disclosure: The importance of employer
practices and workplace climate. Employee Responsibilities and
Rights Journal, 26(4), 237-255.
U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau. (2013). Selected
economic characteristics for the civilian noninstitutionalized
population by disability status. 2013 American Community Survey 1-
year estimates. http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_13_1YR_S1811&prodType=table
Retrieved November 19, 2014.
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014a).
Persons with A Disability: Labor Force Characteristics--2013.
Available at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/disabl.pdf
Retrieved November 14, 2014.
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014b). Table
A6. Employment status of the civilian population by sex, age, and
disability status, not seasonally adjusted. Available at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t06.htm Retrieved November 19, 2014.
U.S. Department of Labor, Office on Disability Employment Policy
(2008). Survey of Employer Perspectives on the Employment of People
with Disabilities. Technical report. Available at http://www.dol.gov/odep/documents/survey_report_jan_09.doc. Retrieved
February 2, 2015.
Definitions: The research that is proposed under this priority must
be focused on one or more stages of research. If the RRTC is to conduct
research that can be categorized under more than one research stage, or
research that progresses from one stage to another, those research
stages must be clearly specified. For purposes of this priority, the
stages of research are from the notice of final priorities and
definitions published in the Federal Register on June 7, 2013 (78 FR
34261).
(a) Exploration and Discovery means the stage of research that
generates hypotheses or theories by conducting new and refined analyses
of data, producing observational findings, and creating other sources
of research-based information. This research stage may include
identifying or describing the barriers to and facilitators of improved
outcomes of individuals with disabilities, as well as identifying or
describing existing practices, programs, or policies that are
associated with important aspects of the lives of individuals with
disabilities. Results achieved under this stage of research may inform
the development of interventions or lead to evaluations of
interventions or policies. The results of the exploration and discovery
stage of research may also be used to inform decisions or priorities.
(b) Intervention Development means the stage of research that
focuses on generating and testing interventions that have the potential
to improve outcomes for individuals with disabilities. Intervention
development involves determining the active components of possible
interventions, developing measures that would be required to illustrate
outcomes, specifying target populations, conducting field tests, and
assessing the feasibility of conducting a well-designed interventions
study. Results from this stage of research may be used to inform the
design of a study to test the efficacy of an intervention.
(c) Intervention Efficacy means the stage of research during which
a project evaluates and tests whether an intervention is feasible,
practical, and has the potential to yield positive outcomes for
individuals with disabilities. Efficacy research may assess the
strength of the relationships between an intervention and outcomes, and
may identify factors or individual characteristics that affect the
relationship between the intervention and outcomes. Efficacy research
can inform decisions about whether there is sufficient evidence to
support ``scaling-up'' an intervention to other sites and contexts.
This stage of research can include assessing the training needed for
wide-scale implementation of the intervention, and approaches to
evaluation of the intervention in real world applications.
(d) Scale-Up Evaluation means the stage of research during which a
project analyzes whether an intervention is effective in producing
improved outcomes for individuals with disabilities when implemented in
a real-world setting. During this stage of research, a project tests
the outcomes of an evidence-based intervention in different settings.
It examines the challenges to successful replication of the
intervention, and the circumstances and activities that contribute to
successful adoption of the intervention in real-world settings. This
stage of research may also include well-designed studies of an
intervention that has been widely adopted in practice, but that lacks a
sufficient evidence-base to demonstrate its effectiveness.
Proposed Priority: The Administrator for Community Living proposes
a priority for an RRTC on Employer Practices Leading to Successful
Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Disabilities. The purpose of
the RRTC is to generate new knowledge about effective employer
practices that support successful employment outcomes for individuals
with disabilities. The RRTC must contribute to improving the employment
outcomes of individuals with disabilities by:
(a) Identifying promising employer practices most strongly
associated with desired employment outcomes for individuals with
disabilities as well as the prevalence of these practices. Practices
should include those related to the hiring, retention, and advancement
of individuals with disabilities.
(b) Developing measures of employment outcomes that include hiring,
retention, and advancement of individuals with disabilities. These
measures must be developed for use by employers and other stakeholders.
These measures may also include employment quality, such as, but not
limited to, earnings, full- or part-time employment, or opportunities
for on-the-job training. In developing these measures, the RRTC must
collaborate with the NIDILRR-funded RRTC on Employment Policy and
Measurement.
(c) Generating new knowledge of the effectiveness of promising
employer practices by identifying or developing, and then implementing
and evaluating pilot workplace program(s) based on practices identified
in (a). This work should be conducted in employment settings in
collaboration with employers, and should include:
(1) Implementation of practices that are particularly likely to be
effective in improving employment outcomes for individuals with
disabilities;
(2) Implementation of practices among different types of employers
(e.g., small v. large employers, private v. public sector employers);
(3) Collection of data using, but not limited to, outcome measures
from (b) above.
(d) Focusing its research on one or more specific stages of
research. If the RRTC is to conduct research that can be categorized
under more than one of the research stages, or research that progresses
from one stage to another, those stages should be clearly justified.
(e) Serving as a national resource center related to employment for
individuals with disabilities, their families, and other stakeholders
by conducting knowledge translation activities that include, but are
not limited to:
(1) Providing information and technical assistance to employers,
employment service providers, employer groups, individuals with

[[Page 10102]]

disabilities and their representatives, and other key stakeholders;
(2) Providing training, including graduate, pre-service, and in-
service training, to employers and employer groups, to facilitate more
effective employer practices for individuals with disabilities. This
training may be provided through conferences, workshops, public
education programs, in-service training programs, and similar
activities;
(3) Disseminating research-based information and materials related
to increasing employment levels for individuals with disabilities; and
(4) Involving key stakeholder groups in the activities conducted
under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this priority to promote the new
knowledge generated by the RRTC.
Final Priority: We will announce the final priority in a notice in
the Federal Register. We will determine the final priority 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 this priority, 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 this proposed priority only upon a reasoned
determination that its benefits would justify its costs. In choosing
among alternative regulatory approaches, we selected those approaches
that would maximize net benefits. Based on the analysis that follows,
the Department believes that this proposed priority is 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 one envisioned by the proposed priority have been completed
successfully, and the proposed priority would generate new knowledge
through research. The new RRTC would generate, disseminate, and promote
the use of new information that would improve outcomes for individuals
with disabilities in the area of employment.
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.thefederalregister.org/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: February 19, 2015.
Kathy Greenlee,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-03877 Filed 2-24-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 37 / Wednesday, February 25, 2015 / Notices 10099

In compliance with the requirements notice proposes a priority for an RRTC The Plan identifies a need for research
of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the on Employer Practices Leading to and training regarding employment of
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Successful Employment Outcomes for individuals with disabilities. To address
Administration for Children and Individuals with Disabilities. We take this need, NIDILRR seeks to: (1) Improve
Families is soliciting public comment this action to focus research attention on the quality and utility of disability and
on the specific aspects of the an area of national need. We intend this rehabilitation research; (2) foster an
information collection described above. priority to contribute to improved exchange of research findings, expertise,
Copies of the proposed collection of employment practices and successful and other information to advance
information can be obtained and employment outcomes for individuals knowledge and understanding of the
comments may be forwarded by writing with disabilities. needs of individuals with disabilities
to the Administration for Children and DATES: We must receive your comments and their family members, including
Families, Office of Administration, on or before March 27, 2015. those from among traditionally
Office Planning, Research and underserved populations; (3) determine
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments
Evaluation, 370 L’Enfant Promenade effective practices, programs, and
through the Federal eRulemaking Portal
SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF policies to improve community living
or via postal mail or commercial
Reports Clearance Officer. Email and participation, employment, and
delivery. We will not accept comments
address: infocollection@acf.hhs.gov. All health and function outcomes for
submitted by fax or by email or those
requests should be identified by the title individuals with disabilities of all ages;
submitted after the comment period. To
of the information collection. (4) identify research gaps and areas for
ensure that we do not receive duplicate
The Department specifically requests promising research investments; (5)
copies, please submit your comments
comments on: (a) Whether the proposed identify and promote effective
only once. In addition, please include
collection of information is necessary mechanisms for integrating research and
the Docket ID at the top of your
for the proper performance of the practice; and (6) disseminate research
comments.
functions of the agency, including findings to all major stakeholder groups,
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
whether the information shall have including individuals with disabilities
www.regulations.gov to submit your
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the and their family members in formats
comments electronically. Information
agency’s estimate of the burden of the that are appropriate and meaningful to
on using Regulations.gov, including
proposed collection of information; (c) them.
instructions for accessing agency
the quality, utility, and clarity of the This notice proposes one priority that
documents, submitting comments, and
information to be collected; and (d) NIDILRR intends to use for one or more
viewing the docket, is available on the
ways to minimize the burden of the competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2015
site under ‘‘Are you new to the site?’’
collection of information on and possibly later years. NIDILRR is
• Postal Mail or Commercial Delivery:
respondents, including through the use under no obligation to make an award
If you mail or deliver your comments
of automated collection techniques or under this priority. The decision to
about these proposed regulations,
other forms of information technology. make an award will be based on the
address them to Patricia Barrett, U.S.
Consideration will be given to quality of applications received and
Department of Health and Human
comments and suggestions submitted available funding. NIDILRR may publish
Services, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,
within 60 days of this publication. additional priorities, as needed.
Room 5142, Potomac Center Plaza
Robert Sargis, (PCP), Washington, DC 20202–2700. Invitation to Comment: We invite you
Privacy Note: The Department’s to submit comments regarding this
Reports Clearance Officer.
policy is to make all comments received proposed priority. To ensure that your
[FR Doc. 2015–03830 Filed 2–24–15; 8:45 am]
from members of the public available for comments have maximum effect in
BILLING CODE 4184–01–P developing the final priority, we urge
public viewing in their entirety on the
Federal eRulemaking Portal at you to identify clearly the specific topic
www.regulations.gov. Therefore, within the priority that each comment
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
commenters should be careful to addresses.
HUMAN SERVICES
include in their comments only We invite you to assist us in
Administration for Community Living information that they wish to make complying with the specific
publicly available. requirements of Executive Orders 12866
[CFDA Number: 84.133B–1] and 13563 and their overall requirement
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
of reducing regulatory burden that
Proposed Priority—National Institute Patricia Barrett. Telephone: (202) 245– might result from this proposed priority.
on Disability, Independent Living, and 6211 or by email: patricia.barrett@ Please let us know of any further ways
Rehabilitation Research— ed.gov. we could reduce potential costs or
Rehabilitation Research and Training If you use a telecommunications increase potential benefits while
Centers device for the deaf (TDD) or a text preserving the effective and efficient
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay administration of the program.
AGENCY: Administration for Community
Service (FRS), toll free, at 1–800–877– During and after the comment period,
Living, HHS.
8339. you may inspect all public comments by
ACTION: Notice of proposed priority.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This following the instructions found under
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

SUMMARY: The Administrator of the notice of proposed priority is in concert the ‘‘Are you new to the site?’’ portion
Administration for Community Living with NIDILRR’s currently approved of the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
proposes a priority for the Long-Range Plan (Plan). The Plan, wwww.regulations.gov. Any comments
Rehabilitation Research and Training which was published in the Federal sent to NIDILRR via postal mail or
Center (RRTC) Program administered by Register on April 4, 2013 (78 FR 20299), commercial delivery can be viewed in
the National Institute on Disability, can be accessed on the Internet at the Room 5142, 550 12th Street SW., PCP,
Independent Living, and Rehabilitation following site: www.ed.gov/about/ Washington, DC, between the hours of
Research (NIDILRR). Specifically, this offices/list/osers/nidrr/policy.html. 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Washington, DC

VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:05 Feb 24, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\25FEN1.SGM 25FEN1

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 37 / Wednesday, February 25, 2015 / Notices 10101

Schur, L., Kruse, D., Blasi, J., & Blanck, P. achieved under this stage of research Employment Outcomes for Individuals
(2009). Is disability disabling in all may inform the development of with Disabilities. The purpose of the
workplaces? Workplace disparities and interventions or lead to evaluations of RRTC is to generate new knowledge
corporate culture. Industrial Relations: A interventions or policies. The results of about effective employer practices that
Journal of Economy and Society, 48(3),
381–410. the exploration and discovery stage of support successful employment
Von Schrader, S., Malzer, V., & Bruyère, S. research may also be used to inform outcomes for individuals with
(2013). Perspectives on disability decisions or priorities. disabilities. The RRTC must contribute
disclosure: The importance of employer (b) Intervention Development means to improving the employment outcomes
practices and workplace climate. the stage of research that focuses on of individuals with disabilities by:
Employee Responsibilities and Rights generating and testing interventions that (a) Identifying promising employer
Journal, 26(4), 237–255. have the potential to improve outcomes practices most strongly associated with
U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census for individuals with disabilities. desired employment outcomes for
Bureau. (2013). Selected economic Intervention development involves individuals with disabilities as well as
characteristics for the civilian
determining the active components of the prevalence of these practices.
noninstitutionalized population by
disability status. 2013 American possible interventions, developing Practices should include those related to
Community Survey 1-year estimates. measures that would be required to the hiring, retention, and advancement
http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/ illustrate outcomes, specifying target of individuals with disabilities.
tableservices/jsf/pages/ populations, conducting field tests, and (b) Developing measures of
productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_13_1YR_ assessing the feasibility of conducting a employment outcomes that include
S1811&prodType=table Retrieved well-designed interventions study. hiring, retention, and advancement of
November 19, 2014. Results from this stage of research may individuals with disabilities. These
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor be used to inform the design of a study measures must be developed for use by
Statistics (2014a). Persons with A to test the efficacy of an intervention. employers and other stakeholders.
Disability: Labor Force Characteristics— (c) Intervention Efficacy means the
2013. Available at http://www.bls.gov/
These measures may also include
news.release/pdf/disabl.pdf Retrieved
stage of research during which a project employment quality, such as, but not
November 14, 2014. evaluates and tests whether an limited to, earnings, full- or part-time
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor intervention is feasible, practical, and employment, or opportunities for on-
Statistics (2014b). Table A6. has the potential to yield positive the-job training. In developing these
Employment status of the civilian outcomes for individuals with measures, the RRTC must collaborate
population by sex, age, and disability disabilities. Efficacy research may assess with the NIDILRR-funded RRTC on
status, not seasonally adjusted. Available the strength of the relationships Employment Policy and Measurement.
at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ between an intervention and outcomes, (c) Generating new knowledge of the
empsit.t06.htm Retrieved November 19, and may identify factors or individual effectiveness of promising employer
2014. characteristics that affect the
U.S. Department of Labor, Office on practices by identifying or developing,
Disability Employment Policy (2008).
relationship between the intervention and then implementing and evaluating
Survey of Employer Perspectives on the and outcomes. Efficacy research can pilot workplace program(s) based on
Employment of People with Disabilities. inform decisions about whether there is practices identified in (a). This work
Technical report. Available at http:// sufficient evidence to support ‘‘scaling- should be conducted in employment
www.dol.gov/odep/documents/survey_ up’’ an intervention to other sites and settings in collaboration with
report_jan_09.doc. Retrieved February 2, contexts. This stage of research can employers, and should include:
2015. include assessing the training needed (1) Implementation of practices that
Definitions: The research that is for wide-scale implementation of the are particularly likely to be effective in
proposed under this priority must be intervention, and approaches to improving employment outcomes for
focused on one or more stages of evaluation of the intervention in real individuals with disabilities;
research. If the RRTC is to conduct world applications. (2) Implementation of practices
research that can be categorized under (d) Scale-Up Evaluation means the among different types of employers (e.g.,
more than one research stage, or stage of research during which a project small v. large employers, private v.
research that progresses from one stage analyzes whether an intervention is public sector employers);
to another, those research stages must be effective in producing improved (3) Collection of data using, but not
clearly specified. For purposes of this outcomes for individuals with limited to, outcome measures from (b)
priority, the stages of research are from disabilities when implemented in a real- above.
the notice of final priorities and world setting. During this stage of (d) Focusing its research on one or
definitions published in the Federal research, a project tests the outcomes of more specific stages of research. If the
Register on June 7, 2013 (78 FR 34261). an evidence-based intervention in RRTC is to conduct research that can be
(a) Exploration and Discovery means different settings. It examines the categorized under more than one of the
the stage of research that generates challenges to successful replication of research stages, or research that
hypotheses or theories by conducting the intervention, and the circumstances progresses from one stage to another,
new and refined analyses of data, and activities that contribute to those stages should be clearly justified.
producing observational findings, and successful adoption of the intervention (e) Serving as a national resource
creating other sources of research-based in real-world settings. This stage of center related to employment for
information. This research stage may research may also include well-designed individuals with disabilities, their
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

include identifying or describing the studies of an intervention that has been families, and other stakeholders by
barriers to and facilitators of improved widely adopted in practice, but that conducting knowledge translation
outcomes of individuals with lacks a sufficient evidence-base to activities that include, but are not
disabilities, as well as identifying or demonstrate its effectiveness. limited to:
describing existing practices, programs, Proposed Priority: The Administrator (1) Providing information and
or policies that are associated with for Community Living proposes a technical assistance to employers,
important aspects of the lives of priority for an RRTC on Employer employment service providers,
individuals with disabilities. Results Practices Leading to Successful employer groups, individuals with

VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:05 Feb 24, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\25FEN1.SGM 25FEN1

Document Created: 2015-12-18 13:09:19
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 13:09:19

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of proposed priority.
Dates		We must receive your comments on or before March 27, 2015.
Contact		Patricia Barrett. Telephone: (202) 245-6211 or by email: [email protected]
FR Citation		80 FR 10099

80 FR 10099 - Proposed Priority-National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research-Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESAdministration for Community Living

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 37 (February 25, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Community Living