### UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES

REHABILITATION SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

WASHINGTON, DC 20202

> INFORMATION MEMORANDUM
>
> RSA-IM-02-10
>
> DATE: February 21, 2002

ADDRESSEES: STATE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AGENCIES (GENERAL)

> STATE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AGENCIES (BLIND)
>
> STATE REHABILITATION COUNCILS
>
> STATEWIDE INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCILS
>
> CENTERS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING
>
> CLIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
>
> PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY PROGRAMS
>
> REHABILITATION CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS

AMERICAN INDIAN VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAMS

> RSA TRAINING GRANTEES
>
> RSA SPECIAL SERVICES PROJECT GRANTEES
>
> RSA SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM

SUBJECT: Public Meetings and Request for Comments on Reauthorization of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as Amended

CONTENT: Background

> The reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
> ("the Act") is scheduled to occur prior to October 1, 2003. To assist
> the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and the Department of
> Education in preparing for reauthorization, public meetings will be
> held to solicit input. In addition, written comments can be submitted
> directly to RSA. The following provides information on the meetings
> and the processes for submitting written comments.

## [Public Meetings]{.underline}

# 

# Schedule

# Public meetings will be held according to the following schedule:

> Date: March 19, 2002
>
> Time: 1:00-6:00 p.m.
>
> Location: Metropolitan Hotel
>
> Lexington and 51st
>
> New York, NY
>
> Date: March 21, 2002
>
> Time: 12:30-6:00 p.m.
>
> Location: Atlanta Marriott Marquis
>
> 265 Peachtree Center Avenue
>
> Atlanta, GA
>
> Date: March 25, 2002
>
> Time: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
>
> Location: Holiday Inn O\'Hare
>
> 5440 North River Road
>
> Rosemont, IL
>
> Date: April 18,2002
>
> Time: 12:30-5:30 p.m.
>
> Location: First Floor Auditorium
>
> Elihu Harris State Office Building
>
> 1515 Clay Street
>
> Oakland, CA
>
> Date: May 9, 2002
>
> Time: 12:30-6:00 p.m.
>
> Location: Bachman Therapeutic Recreation Center
>
> 2750 Bachman Drive
>
> Dallas, TX
>
> Date: June 19, 2002
>
> Time: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
>
> Location: U.S. Department of Education
>
> Barnard Auditorium
>
> 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
>
> Washington, DC
>
> **[Commenters]{.underline}**
>
> Individuals who wish to present comments at one of the public meetings
> must reserve time on the agenda for that meeting by contacting the
> individual identified below (under Reservation 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.
>
> Approximately five to seven minutes will be allotted to each
> commenter, depending upon the number of individuals who reserve time
> on the agenda. At the meeting, presenters are encouraged to submit to
> RSA two written copies of their comments.
>
> In order to ensure that all comments are given maximum consideration
> during the development of the Department's reauthorization proposals,
> individuals should present their comments by: (1) Identifying the
> issue(s) (and, if applicable, portions of the Act) to which their
> comments pertain; (2) Clearly describing any proposed improvements to
> the Act; (3) Providing a concise rationale supporting each proposed
> change. We also ask that commenters indicate which portions of the
> current Act they find to be particularly effective.

#### Reservation and Additional Meeting Information 

> All individuals attending the public meetings, including those
> presenting comments, must make reservations by contacting the
> appropriate individual identified below. In addition, all individuals
> attending the public meetings should be prepared to show photo
> identification at the meeting location for security purposes.
>
> The meeting rooms and proceedings will be accessible for individuals
> with disabilities. In addition, when making reservations, anyone
> attending a meeting, including those presenting comments, who needs
> special accommodations such as sign language interpreters, Braille
> materials, and communication access real-time transcription should
> inform the individual identified below of their specific accessibility
> needs. Requests for accommodations must be made at least 10 working
> days prior to the scheduled meeting date. For individuals who need to
> use the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS), the telephone number
> is 800-877-8339 and the customer service number is 800-877-0996.
>
> For reservations, please contact:
>
> **New York:**
>
> Richard Anderson
>
> Rehabilitation Services Administration
>
> U.S. Department of Education
>
> c/o NYC Board of Education
>
> 65 Court Street, 12^th^ Floor
>
> Brooklyn, NY 11201
>
> (Voice) 718-935-5650
>
> (Fax) 718-935-5584
>
> (FIRS) 800-877-8339
>
> (E-mail) richard.anderson@ed.gov.
>
> **Atlanta:**
>
> Diane McCuen
>
> Rehabilitation Services Administration
>
> U.S. Department of Education
>
> 61 Forsyth Street
>
> Atlanta, GA 30303;
>
> (Voice) 404-562-6330
>
> (Fax) 404-562-6346
>
> (TTY) 404-562-6347
>
> (E-mail) diane.mccuen@ed.gov.
>
> **Chicago:**
>
> Kathleen Niemi
>
> Rehabilitation Services Administration
>
> U.S. Department of Education
>
> 111 North Canal Street
>
> Suite 1048
>
> Chicago, IL 60606-7204
>
> (Voice) 312-886-8623
>
> (Fax) 312-353-8623
>
> (FIRS) 800-877-8339
>
> (E-mail) kathleen.niemi@ed.gov.
>
> **Oakland:**
>
> Gilbert \"Doc\" Williams
>
> Rehabilitation Services Administration
>
> Department of Education
>
> 50 United Nations Plaza, Room 215
>
> San Francisco, CA 94102
>
> (Voice) 415-556-4070
>
> (Fax) 415-437-7848
>
> (TTY) 415-437-7845
>
> (E-mail) gilbert.williams@ed.gov.
>
> **Dallas:**
>
> Michael Evans
>
> Rehabilitation Services Administration
>
> U.S. Department of Education
>
> Harwood Center
>
> 1999 Bryan Street, Room 2740
>
> Dallas, TX 75201-6817
>
> (Voice) 214-880-4927
>
> (Fax) 214-880-4931
>
> (TTY) 214-880-4933
>
> (E-mail) michael.evans@ed.gov.
>
> **Washington, DC:**
>
> Tammy Nelson
>
> U.S. Department of Education
>
> Rehabilitation Services Administration
>
> 330 C Street, SW, Room 3214
>
> Washington, DC 20202
>
> (Voice) (202) 205-9005
>
> (Fax) 202-260-7527
>
> (TTY) (202) 205-5538
>
> (E-mail) tammy.nelson@ed.gov.
>
> **[Written Comments]{.underline}**
>
> In addition to soliciting input through public meetings, RSA invites
> the submission of written comments on the reauthorization of the Act
> by June 30, 2002 to ensure that they are given full consideration by
> the Department in formulating its reauthorization proposals. All
> written comments concerning the reauthorization of the Act should be
> addressed to Joanne Wilson, Commissioner of the Rehabilitation
> Services Administration, United States Department of Education and
> submitted by one of the following methods:

## Internet 

> We encourage the submission of comments through the Internet at the
> following address:
>
> rehab.reauth@ed.gov.

## Mail 

> Comments can also be submitted via mail to:
>
> Rehabilitation Services Administration
>
> United States Department of Education
>
> 330 \"C\" Street, S.W., Room 3028
>
> Mary E. Switzer Building
>
> Washington, DC 20202-2531

## Facsimile 

> Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at
>
> \(202\) 205-9874
>
> As with comments provided during the public meetings, written comments
> submitted to RSA should:

(1) Identify the issue(s) (and, if applicable, portions of the Act) to
    which their comments pertain;

(2) Clearly describe any proposed improvements to the Act; and

(3) Provide a concise rationale supporting each proposed change.

> In addition, we ask that commenters indicate which portions of the
> current Act they find to be particularly effective. We also ask that
> you submit your comments only once using one of the three methods
> described above so that we do not receive duplicate copies of the same
> comments.
>
> **[Further Information]{.underline}**
>
> Individuals seeking additional information should contact:
>
> Beverlee Stafford
>
> United States Department of Education
>
> Rehabilitation Services Administration
>
> 330 \"C\" Street, S.W., Room 3014
>
> Mary E. Switzer Building
>
> Washington, DC 20202-2550.
>
> E-mail: Beverlee.Stafford@ed.gov
>
> Telephone: (202) 205-8831
>
> TTY:(202) 205-5538.

## [Availability of Copies of the Act]{.underline}

> An electronic copy of the Act is available on the RSA Web site at:
>
> 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 above (under Reservation and Additional Meeting
> Information).
>
> Other individuals who are unable to access the Internet can obtain a
> copy of the Act by calling (202) 205-8299.
>
> Joanne Wilson
>
> Commissioner

cc: CSAVR

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