58862 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 210 / Thursday, October 30, 1997 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

National Institute on Disability and

Rehabilitation Research; Rehabilitation

Engineering Research Centers;

Proposed Funding Priorities for Fiscal

Years 1998–99

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Funding

Priorities for Fiscal Years 1998–1999 for

Rehabilitation Engineering Research

Centers.

SUMMARY: The Secretary proposes

funding priorities for four Rehabilitation

Engineering Research Centers (RERCs)

under the National Institute on

Disability and Rehabilitation Research

(NIDRR) for fiscal years 1998–1999. The

Secretary takes this action to focus

research attention on areas of national

need. These priorities are intended to

improve rehabilitation services and

outcomes for individuals with

disabilities.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before December 1, 1997.

ADDRESSES: All comments concerning

these proposed priorities should be

addressed to Donna Nangle, U.S.

Department of Education, 600 Maryland

Avenue, S.W., room 3418, Switzer

Building, Washington, D.C. 20202–2645.

Comments may also be sent through the

Internet: comment@ed.gov

You must include the term

‘‘Engineering Research Centers’’ in the

electronic message.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Donna Nangle. Telephone: (202) 205–

5880. Individuals who use a

telecommunications device for the deaf

(TDD) may call the TDD number at (202)

205–2742. Internet:

DonnalNangle@ed.gov

Individuals with disabilities may

obtain this document in an alternate

format (e.g., Braille, large print,

audiotape, or computer diskette) on

request to the contact person listed in

the preceding paragraph.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This

notice contains proposed priorities

under the Disability and Rehabilitation

Research Projects and Centers program

for RERCs related to information

technology access, communication

enhancement, ergonomic solutions for

employment, and hearing enhancement.

The authority for RERCs is contained

in section 204(b)(3) of the Rehabilitation

Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C.

762(b)(3)). Under this program the

Secretary makes awards to public and

private agencies and organizations,

including institutions of higher

education, Indian tribes, and tribal

organizations, to conduct research,

demonstration, and training activities

regarding rehabilitation technology in

order to enhance opportunities for

meeting the needs of, and addressing

the barriers confronted by, individuals

with disabilities in all aspects of their

lives. An RERC must be operated by or

in collaboration with an institution of

higher education or a nonprofit

organization.

These proposed priorities support the

National Education Goal that calls for

every adult American to possess the

skills necessary to compete in a global

economy.

The authority for the Secretary to

establish research priorities by reserving

funds to support particular research

activities is contained in sections 202(g)

and 204 of the Rehabilitation Act of

1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 761a(g)

and 762).

The Secretary will announce the final

priorities in a notice in the Federal

Register. The final priorities will be

determined by responses to this notice,

available funds, and other

considerations of the Department.

Funding of a particular project depends

on the final priority, the availability of

funds, and the quality of the

applications received. The publication

of these proposed priorities does not

preclude the Secretary from proposing

additional priorities, nor does it limit

the Secretary to funding only these

priorities, subject to meeting applicable

rulemaking requirements.

Note: This notice of proposed priorities

does not solicit applications. A notice

inviting applications under this competition

will be published in the Federal Register

concurrent with or following the notice of

final priorities.

Description of the Rehabilitation

Engineering Research Center Program

RERCs carry out research or

demonstration activities by:

(a) Developing and disseminating

innovative methods of applying

advanced technology, scientific

achievement, and psychological and

social knowledge to (1) solve

rehabilitation problems and remove

environmental barriers, and (2) study

new or emerging technologies, products,

or environments;

(b) Demonstrating and disseminating

(1) innovative models for the delivery of

cost-effective rehabilitation technology

services to rural and urban areas, and (2)

other scientific research to assist in

meeting the employment and

independent living needs of individuals

with severe disabilities; or

(c) Facilitating service delivery

systems change through (1) the

development, evaluation, and

dissemination of consumer-responsive

and individual and family centered

innovative models for the delivery to

both rural and urban areas of innovative

cost-effective rehabilitation technology

services, and (2) other scientific

research to assist in meeting the

employment and independent needs of

individuals with severe disabilities.

Each RERC must provide training

opportunities to individuals, including

individuals with disabilities, to become

researchers of rehabilitation technology

and practitioners of rehabilitation

technology in conjunction with

institutions of higher education and

nonprofit organizations.

General

The Secretary proposes that the

following requirements apply to these

RERCs pursuant to these absolute

priorities unless noted otherwise:

The RERC must have the capability to

design, build, and test prototype devices

and assist in the transfer of successful

solutions to the marketplace. The RERC

must evaluate the efficacy and safety of

its new products, instrumentation, or

assistive devices.

The RERC must provide graduatelevel research training to build capacity

for engineering research in the

rehabilitation field and to provide

training in the applications of new

technology to service providers and to

individuals with disabilities and their

families.

The RERC must involve individuals

with disabilities and, if appropriate,

their family members in planning and

implementing the research,

development, and training programs, in

interpreting and disseminating the

research findings, and in evaluating the

Center.

The RERC must share information and

data, and, as appropriate, collaborate on

research and training with other NIDRRsupported grantees including, but not

limited to, the Americans with

Disabilities Act (ADA) Disability and

Business Technical Assistance Centers,

other related RERCs and RRTCs, and

grantees under the Technology-Related

Assistance for Individuals with

Disabilities Act.

The RERC must conduct a state-ofthe-science conference in the third year

of the grant and publish a

comprehensive report on the final

outcomes of the conference in the fourth

year of the grant.

The RERC must develop and

implement a utilization plan for

ensuring that all new and improved

technologies developed by the RERC are
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 210 / Thursday, October 30, 1997 / Notices 58863

successfully transferred to the

marketplace.

The RERC must develop and

implement in consultation with the

NIDRR-supported National Center for

the Dissemination of Disability Research

a plan to disseminate the RERC’s

research results to disability

organizations, persons with disabilities,

businesses, manufacturers, professional

journals, and other appropriate parties.

Priorities

Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) the

Secretary proposes to give an absolute

preference to applications that meet the

following priorities. The Secretary

proposes to fund under this competition

only applications that meet one of these

absolute priorities.

Proposed Priority 1: Information

Technology Access

Background

High speed computers, high speed

modems, sophisticated

telecommunication networks, cable

networks, intranets, the Internet, the

World Wide Web (www), and satellites

constitute an unparalled global

information network. However, the

proliferation of information technology

has also created problems of

accessibility for persons with

disabilities (Paciello, M., People with

Disabilities Can’t Access the Web, Yuri

Rubinsky Insight Foundation, 1997).

Persons with disabilities will be

significantly disadvantaged if this new

generation of information technology is

inaccessible. Promoting accessibility to

this dynamic field is a highly technical

and complicated task that will place

unique demands on an RERC to serve as

a resource to a wide range of industry

and government officials, as well as

persons with disabilities.

The Internet is expanding at a

phenomenal rate. There were 1,000

Internet host computers worldwide in

1980. That number increased to 200,000

in 1996 and is expected to reach 12

million by the year 2000. The number

of Internet users has virtually doubled

every year over the past three years from

an estimated 16 million in 1995 to 68

million in 1997 (Computer Industry

Forecasts, Third Quarter, 1997).

Emerging nomadic technologies will

enable individuals to access information

systems from virtually anywhere, at

anytime, and in entirely visual, audio,

or mixed modes.

The Internet and World Wide Web are

also undergoing dramatic structural

changes. Internet 2 is a consortium of

academic institutions planning to

interconnect its members with a new

high-bandwidth Internet that will

support advanced applications that are

not possible or practical on the current

Internet (Kennedy, K., Testimony Before

the Senate Commerce, Science, and

Transportation Committee;

Subcommittee on Communications,

June 3, 1997). Once developed, the Next

Generation Internet will interconnect

100 Federal research institutions and

their research partners with a network

capable of operating at speeds 100 to

1000 times faster than today’s Internet

(Lane, N., Testimony Before the Senate

Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Committee; Subcommittee on

Communications, June 3, 1997). In

spring of 1997, the International World

Wide Web Consortium held special

workshops at their Sixth International

World Wide Web Conference that

focused on developing strategies for

designing accessibility into the Web

core environment.

New generations of computer and

information technologies become

available long before anyone has fully

grasped the implications of the previous

generation (Kelly, H., Testimony Before

the Senate Commerce, Science, and

Transportation Committee;

Subcommittee on Communications,

June 3, 1997). Product cycles and

lifetimes are measured in months, not

years. There are many small high

technology firms that remain virtually

unknown until they announce their

product. These firms may have little, or

no experience with design accessibility.

In addition, the industry is highly

competitive, and companies may not be

willing to incorporate accessible design

features into their products if they

believe it involves additional

development time and expense.

Designing accessible features into new

information technologies early in the

design process provides persons with

disabilities with immediate access and

is more cost effective than retrofitting.

Increasingly, functions are integrated

onto single chips and motherboards,

obviating the need for third party

accessories such as sound cards or voice

input devices, and making changes or

modifications to these built-in features

difficult or impossible. The earlier

accessibility occurs in the design

process for new products, the easier it

is to incorporate accessibility features.

Universal design is a process whereby

environments and products are

designed with built-in flexibility so they

are usable by all people, regardless of

age and ability, at no additional cost to

the user. While advances in computers

and information technologies create

new opportunities for some individuals,

they create barriers for others.

Information presented in graphical

modes (i.e., images, photographs, icons)

pose problems for people who are blind

unless there are built-in ‘‘hooks’’ that

can be identified by the user’s screen

reader. Conversely, audio cues (beeps)

do not convey information to

individuals who are deaf or hard of

hearing. The proliferation of public

access terminals creates unique

accessibility challenges. Access to these

terminals requires the use of keyboards,

touch screens, telephone handsets, and

smart cards and will require the

development of flexible, multi-modal

interface techniques that can work

across all disabilities.

The ability to access computer-based

information technologies is quickly

becoming a prerequisite for successful

employment. Companies are

increasingly using internal networks,

commonly referred to as intranets, to

share information within the company.

This presents unique problems for

individuals with disabilities if the

company uses proprietary software and

databases that are specifically designed

for their company and do not follow

standard protocols. In those cases, the

information may be inaccessible to

individuals who use assistive devices

(e.g., screen readers) to access their

computers.

There are emerging information and

communications policy issues that will

have an enormous impact on technology

development. Section 508 of the

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended,

and the Telecommunications Act of

1996 require the development of

accessibility standards and guidelines

that direct government agencies, Federal

customers and contractors,

manufacturers, and developers to

address accessibility for new and

existing products.

Although computer and information

technologies are expanding at

phenomenal rates, it is also important to

recognize that there are many

individuals with disabilities who have

problems accessing the current

generation of technologies (e.g.,

integrating assistive devices with

existing computer workstations).

Continued support and guidance for

these individuals are necessary to

promote access to the computers and

information systems they currently use.

Proposed Priority 1

The Secretary proposes to establish an

RERC on information technology access

for the purposes of developing

technological solutions and promoting

access for individuals with disabilities

to current and emerging information

technologies and technology interfaces,
58864 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 210 / Thursday, October 30, 1997 / Notices

including hardware, software, networks,

nomadic technologies, the Internet and

the World Wide Web. The RERC must:

(a) Develop and evaluate

technological solutions in collaboration

with industry to promote accessibility

and universal design at the outset of the

development of information

technologies including software,

hardware, intranets, and nomadic

technologies;

(b) Develop through research and in

collaboration with industry flexible,

multi-modal interface techniques for

computer and information technologies

that provide universal access for all

individuals with disabilities;

(c) Develop and disseminate strategies

for integrating current accessibility

features into newer generations of

computer and information systems;

(d) Develop through research and in

collaboration with Federal agencies,

universities and industry the

technologies necessary to promote

access to current and emerging

generations of the Internet and the

World Wide Web for persons with

disabilities;

(e) Develop and evaluate technologies

and strategies to promote universal

access to intranet systems;

(f) Provide technical assistance to

public and private organizations

responsible for developing policies,

guidelines and standards that affect the

accessibility of information technology

products and systems that are

developed, manufactured, and

implemented; and

(g) Provide technical assistance and

guidance to individuals with disabilities

and employers on accessibility

problems affecting current computer

and information systems.

In carrying out the purposes of the

priority, the RERC shall coordinate on

research projects of mutual interest with

the NIDRR-funded RERC on

Telecommunications.

Proposed Priority 2: Communication

Enhancement

Background

Speech and language disorders affect

the way people talk and understand

language, range from mild to significant,

and may be developmental or acquired.

According to the American SpeechLanguage and Hearing Association

(ASHA), approximately 14 million

individuals may be described as having

a speech/language disorder (Bello, J.,

Communication Facts, ASHA Research

Division, 1994). Two million of those

individuals experience significant

communication disorders and need

access to augmentative and alternative

communication (AAC) (Beukelman, D.,

Augmentative and Alternative

Communication, Vol. 11, June, 1995).

For the purpose of this priority,

augmentative and alternative

communication refers to all forms of

communication that enhance or

supplement comprehension, speech,

and writing, including electronic

devices and communication boards.

NIDRR is proposing to define the

target population for this RERC as those

persons with significant communication

disorders and is particularly interested

in receiving public comments on how

the field defines significant

communication disorders.

Historically, augmentative and

alternative communication has been

associated with specific technologies

that provide individuals who have

significant communication disorders

with some type of alternative output.

Research documenting successful AAC

use has been confined primarily to

adolescents and adults with reasonably

intact cognitive capabilities and

moderate to significant motor

impairment (Shane, H., Presentation at

ASHA Annual Convention, Seattle,

1995). This limited approach does not

address the needs of all persons with

significant communication disorders

such as persons with mental retardation,

aphasia, traumatic brain injury, and

autism. A more holistic approach to

communication enhancement strategies

for persons with significant

communication disorders must take into

account the complexities of human

language and incorporate those factors

as unique physical, cognitive, and

sensory manifestations and

individualized learning styles.

There is a need for new and improved

AAC technologies that take the more

holistic approach to AAC intervention

by addressing input technologies,

language processing, and output

strategies for a wide range of

disabilities. These new or improved

technologies could address an array of

issues, including, but not limited to:

speed enhancement and rate of

communication that enable the user to

operate in or close to real-time; cosmesis

and aesthetics of devices; ergonomic

and human factors relationships to

interventions and technologies for

significant communication disorders;

quality, diversity, and naturalness of

speech output as it relates to a user’s

actual voice; human and machine

interface and multiple control options;

using technology to reduce the burden

on users with physical disabilities;

reliability, portability, and cost; and

developing and disseminating

measurable outcomes of research.

Studies of the brain and language

acquisition emphasize the importance of

addressing the language needs of

toddlers and school aged children who

use or could use AAC (Blackstone, S.,

Augmentative Communication News,

Vol. 10, No. 1, 1997). Often children and

others with significant communication

disorders encounter difficulty in

processing and comprehending spoken

language. In order to address the needs

of these children and adults with

significant communication disorders,

systems to enhance communication

must support comprehension as well as

expression.

Reading and writing are interrelated

skills that emerge as part of an

interactive language and

communication process that begins

early in life and continues for

approximately 6 years. This process is

referred to as emergent literacy. Users of

AAC in contrast to those who do not use

AAC are often found to be in a phase of

emergent literacy for many more years

(Koppenhaver, D., et. al., Technology

and Disability, Vol 2., No. 3, 1993).

Emergent literacy and AAC use are

interrelated processes. This relationship

has an impact on the way in that the

next generation of technology for

communication enhancement should be

studied and developed. Research issues

related to emergent literacy of AAC

users include, but are not limited to: the

effects of AAC use on reading and

writing development; differences in

written language development between

AAC users and non-users; the effects of

early AAC use on emergent literacy; and

the impact of different types of

technologies on better understanding

and use of written language in AAC

users.

Aging presents a unique challenge to

AAC researchers because technologies

must address linguistic, speech, and

sensory deterioration as well as

tolerance for technology. As persons

age, the need for communication

enhancement technology increases, yet,

according to data reported by the

National Health Interview Survey in

1990 only six-tenths of one percent of

individuals aged 65 or older were using

AAC technology. Elderly persons with

acquired communication disorders

encounter a lack of awareness on the

part of service providers and an absence

of communication services in general.

To date there has been only minimal

attention to the job options available for

persons with disabilities who use AAC.

Anecdotal reports suggest that

individuals with severe communication

disorders are frequently considered

unemployable. The high rate of

unemployment results from a number of
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 210 / Thursday, October 30, 1997 / Notices 58865

factors including, but not limited to:

lack of skills, inadequate job

preparation; attitudinal barriers;

transportation barriers; architectural and

accommodation barriers; and limitations

in the AAC technology (Light, J., et. al.,

AAC, Vol. 12, 1996). Issues related to

unemployment for users of AAC devices

include, but are not limited to,

compatibility with other technology on

the worksite and the ability of the AAC

user to transition easily from one task to

another.

There are over 40 companies in the

United States developing,

manufacturing and distributing AAC

devices. The next generation of

development must challenge

conventional AAC approaches and

improve the way in that new

technologies incorporate and blend

principles of communication theories

and engineering. Communicative

competence ensures that individuals are

able to attain communication goals that

include expressing needs and wants,

developing social skills and routines,

and exchanging information (Light, J.,

AAC, Vol. 13, 1997). Communication

competence is built over time through

improved science, engineering, and the

modification of environments,

parameters, opportunities and

instruction as well as improving

communication tools.

Proposed Priority 2

The Secretary proposes to establish an

RERC on communication enhancement

to improve AAC technologies that can

further the development of

communication, language, natural

speech, discourse skills, and literacy of

persons with significant communication

disorders. The RERC must:

(a) Develop and evaluate in

collaboration with industry improved

AAC technologies for individuals with

significant communication disorders;

(b) Develop and evaluate strategies

that promote literacy proficiency for

AAC users;

(c) Develop and evaluate

communication enhancement strategies

and AAC technologies that factor in the

speech, linguistic and multiple sensory

needs of the elderly;

(d) Investigate and disseminate

strategies to build the capacity of service

providers and increase their

involvement with elderly persons with

significant communication disorders

who use or could use AAC; and

(e) Identify barriers that negatively

affect the employment status of

individuals with significant

communication disorders who use, or

could use, AAC and develop and

evaluate approaches to improve their

employment status.

In carrying out the purposes of the

priority, the RERC must:

• Coordinate on research projects of

mutual interest with the NIDRR-funded

RERC on Hearing Enhancement;

• Address the needs of individuals of

all ages with significant communication

disorders including, but not limited to,

toddlers and the elderly; and

• Address the needs of persons with

developmental disabilities and acquired

disabilities including but not limited to

mental retardation, aphasia, traumatic

brain injury, and autism.

Proposed Priority 3: Ergonomic

Solutions for Employment

Background

The familiar components of the work

environment (i.e., tools, machines, and

equipment) often are designed without

adequate consideration for the people

who must use them. Similarly, work

tasks may require capabilities that

individuals do not have or cannot

sustain over long periods of time

without injury. Improperly designed

workplaces can lead to fatigue,

discomfort, and injury that result in

reduced productivity and increased

costs for employers. These same work

environment components may present

additional physical barriers to persons

with disabilities and negatively impact

their employment status.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics

estimates that 62 percent of all

workplace injuries in 1995 resulted

from trauma caused by repetitive stress

injuries (RSI) (commonly referred to as

cumulative trauma disorders or CTDs)—

up from 15 percent in the early 1980s.

The National Institute for Occupational

Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates

that annual U.S. medical costs from

repetitive stress injuries total $13 billion

(NIOSH, ‘‘Musculoskeletal Disorders

and Workplace Factors,’’ July, 1997),

and the Labor Department’s

Occupational Safety and Health

Administration (OSHA) has estimated

overall costs at nearly $100 billion a

year when one considers lost work time,

lost productivity, and retraining costs.

Ergonomics is an interdisciplinary

field concerned with the performance

and safety of individuals at work and

how they cope with the work

environment, interact with machines,

and, in general, negotiate their work

surroundings (Scheer, S. and Mital, A.,

‘‘Ergonomics,’’ Archives of Physical

Medicine & Rehabilitation, Volume 78,

pg. 36, March, 1997). Ergonomic

principles are based on a combination of

science, engineering, and biomechanics

(the study of the body as a system

operating under two sets of laws:

Newtonian mechanics and the

biological laws of life) and are used to

promote the proper design of products,

workplaces, and equipment (Kroemer,

K.H.E., et. al., Ergonomics: How to

Design for Ease & Efficiency, Prentice

Hall, N.J., pgs. 6–7, 1994). When these

principles are applied correctly, the

incidence and severity of

musculoskeletal disorders decrease

(Stobbe, T.J., ‘‘Occupational Ergonomics

and Injury Prevention,’’ Occupational

Medicine, pgs. 531–543, July, 1996)

thereby reducing the likelihood of work

related injuries and employer costs.

Cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs)

are a class of musculoskeletal disorders

involving nerves, tendons, muscles and

supporting bony structures (i.e., back,

neck, shoulders, and hands). They

represent a wide range of disorders that

can differ in severity from mild periodic

conditions to those that are severe,

chronic and debilitating. Since the early

1980s, there has been a dramatic

increase in CTDs. OSHA attributes

much of this increase to changes in

production processes and technologies,

resulting in more specialized tasks with

increased repetitions and higher

assembly line speeds. Two of the most

frequently occurring, occupationally

induced CTDs are carpal tunnel

syndrome and low back pain.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition

caused by pressure on the median nerve

as it passes through the carpal tunnel of

the wrist; it results in the gradual onset

of numbness and tingling in one’s

thumb and the first two and a half

fingers of the hand.

If allowed to continue, carpal tunnel

syndrome may cause pain, muscle

atrophy at the base of the thumb, and

clumsiness (Phalen, G.S., ‘‘The CarpalTunnel Syndrome: Seventeen Year’s

Experience in diagnosis and Treatment

of Six-Hundred Fifty-Four Hands,’’ The

Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, pgs.

211–228, 1996). Carpal tunnel syndrome

is recognized as a disabling condition of

the hand caused by excessive or

repetitive movements, undesirable hand

positions, or exertions that impose

prolonged loads on the affected tissues

(Huenting, H., et. al., ‘‘Constrained

Postures in Accounting Machine

Operations,’’ Applied Ergonomic,

Volume 11, pgs.145–149, 1980).

Improper working posture is a major

factor in the development of lower back

pain. The strain on one’s body may be

caused by external loads (e.g., when one

lifts, lowers, pulls, pushes, carries,

holds onto heavy objects or any

combination of these factors) or by

simply moving one’s own body or by
58866 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 210 / Thursday, October 30, 1997 / Notices

maintaining postural support using

muscle tension alone. In addition to the

loss in function and pain, the direct and

indirect costs associated with lower

back injuries are significant. There is a

need for reliable and validated

measurement tools to measure

mechanical strains within the body and

to incorporate the various findings into

models of strains and capabilities

(Kroemer, K.H.E., op. cit., pgs. 473–475).

The ability to perform physical work

depends greatly upon a number of

variables including an individual’s age,

size, strength, overall health and fitness,

training, motivation, and one’s physical

dexterity. A common approach to

matching an individual’s work capacity

with specific job tasks is to assess the

individual’s overall energy capacity by

measuring heart rate and oxygen

consumption while on a treadmill or

bicycle ergometer and then comparing

that information with the amount of

energy it takes for a ‘‘normal’’ person to

do the specific job tasks (Kroemer,

K.H.E, op. cit., pgs. 118–131). Improper

matches can lead to early fatigue, and

impact a person’s ability to do the job

tasks safely and efficiently.

Individuals with disabilities present

unique ergonomic challenges

particularly if they use assistive devices

to overcome deficits and function

independently. The use of ergonomic

knowledge in rehabilitation engineering

is widespread, ranging from wrist

splints to environmental control

systems. Technology for people with

significant disabilities depends

increasingly on the development and

implementation of sophisticated devices

including voice input systems, screen

readers, and eye tracking systems.

However, development alone of those

types of devices does not ensure

success. It is sometimes necessary to

quantitatively measure one’s residual

capabilities and energy capacity and

compare these results with specific job

tasks. After selecting the appropriate

ergonomic solutions, it is necessary to

have the individual demonstrate the

usability of those solutions within the

worksite environment and make the

necessary changes or adaptations to

ensure proper use and fit. There are

testing devices and procedures that have

been developed to quantitatively

measure the residual capabilities of

impaired persons, such as the Basic

Elements of Performance Test and the

Available Motions Inventory Test

(Smith, R.V. and Leslie, J.H.,

Rehabilitation Engineering, CRC Press,

pgs. 127–143, 1990). These tests

measure an individual’s ability for

specific tasks (i.e., reach, grasp,

manipulation), but do not measure one’s

ability to incorporate complex assistive

devices into the workplace of people

with significant disabilities.

Elderly individuals are working

longer than ever before and the

proportion of people with work

disability (defined as a limitation in

work due to chronic illness or

impairment) increases with age

(Disability Statistics Program, ‘‘People

with Work Disability in the U.S.,’’

Disability Statistics Abstract, U.S.

Department of Education, Volume 4,

May, 1992). Older workers face unique

ergonomic challenges due to other

changes that occur naturally as part of

the aging process (i.e., changes in

biomechanical features, respiratory

capabilities, visual functions, hearing,

reaction times, etc). Without proper

ergonomic design and strategies, older

workers could well find themselves at

an unnecessary disadvantage due to

compromised productivity and health.

Proposed Priority 3

The Secretary proposes to establish an

RERC on ergonomic solutions for

employment to develop ergonomic

strategies and devices to reduce and

prevent the outset of cumulative trauma

disorders and to assist persons with

disabilities in obtaining and

maintaining appropriate employment.

The RERC must:

(a) Investigate the biomechanical

factors that lead to cumulative trauma

disorders including, but not necessarily

limited to, carpal tunnel syndrome and

low back injuries;

(b) Develop and evaluate worksite

ergonomic analysis tools to determine

the causes of ergonomic stress

associated with repetitive motions,

awkward postures, and excessive energy

expenditure;

(c) Investigate and improve existing

ergonomic strategies and devices used

to prevent cumulative trauma disorders

and develop new strategies when

appropriate;

(d) Design and develop ergonomic

strategies and devices for integration of

ergonomic solutions for workers with

disabilities; and

(e) Design and develop ergonomic

strategies and devices to reduce and

prevent cumulative trauma disorders

among elderly workers.

In carrying out the purposes of the

priority, the RERC shall coordinate on

research projects of mutual interest with

the RRTC on Workplace Supports to

Improve Employment Outcomes.

Proposed Priority 4: Hearing

Enhancement

Background

Individuals whose hearing is

impaired, but who can understand

conversational speech with, or without,

amplification are hard-of-hearing (HoH).

Individuals classified as HoH range in

age from infants to the elderly. The

National Center for Health Statistics

(NCHS), using the ‘‘Gallaudet Hearing

Scale’’ that is self-reporting and

quantifies the amount of interference

with hearing in ordinary day-to-day

situations, estimates that the number of

persons who are HoH and who might

benefit from using a hearing aid ranges

from 20 million to 22 million (‘‘National

Health Survey,’’ Series 10, No. 188,

1994).

Developments over the past five years

have resulted in significant growth in

digital hearing aid technology,

improved evaluation of hearing loss,

especially in very young children,

improved computer assisted fitting of

hearing aids, and more cosmetically

acceptable hearing aids that do not

sacrifice important functions for the

sake of appearance. Modern science and

technology continue to offer even

greater opportunity for improvements in

the simplification and automation of

hearing loss evaluation and in the

proper fitting of appropriate hearing

aids to individual users. Concurrently

there have been important

developments in related areas, such as

assistive listening devices (ALDs) and in

automatic speech recognition (ASR), a

technology that enables a person to

dictate words into a microphone and

have those words converted into

computer-language text. The 1996

National Strategic Plan of the National

Institute on Deafness and Other

Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

reflects a growing realization that new

technology offers potential relief from

the symptoms of tinnitus. New

developments in ultra-thin circuit

boards and chips, flash ROM, better

power management, and other forms of

emerging technology offer increasing

opportunities to expand features

available in the next generation of

hearing enhancing devices.

While improving, consistent and early

identification of hearing loss in small

children remains problematic. The

diagnostic technology needs to be

simplified and made available to

pediatric and child care personnel with

minimal training in audiology.

The proper fitting of hearing aids

ensures that tonal quality, amplification

levels, and environmental noise are

controlled to the maximum extent
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 210 / Thursday, October 30, 1997 / Notices 58867

possible. New developments in

sophisticated digital hearing technology

must be accompanied by new training

and fitting procedures to ensure that

new multi-channel aids deliver

maximum performance.

Tinnitus affects about 17 percent of

the general population and about 33

percent of the elderly (Jastreboff, P. and

Hazell, J., ‘‘Neurophysiological

Approaches to Tinnitus’’ British Journal

of Audiology, 1993). Tinnitus is

described as an incessant ringing in the

ears or other head noise that is heard

when there is no external cause for that

noise. Currently, there is no cure for

tinnitus (Goldstein, B. & Shulman, A.,

‘‘Tinnitus Masking—A Longitudinal

Study of Efficacy/Diagnosis 1977–

1994.’’ Proceedings of the Fifth

International Tinnitus Seminar, 1995).

Often, tinnitus accompanies hearing

loss. However, there are cases of severe

hearing loss without tinnitus. Tinnitus

also occurs without evidence of other

auditory system diseases or disorders.

This variation drives the need for

better dual channel hearing aid/tinnitus

maskers and single channel tinnitus

maskers. Although there are currently

some devices on the market that

combine amplification and masking,

those efforts have not been widely

accepted, possibly because recent

technical developments in

miniaturizing have not been fully

exploited (Gold, S., et. al., ‘‘Selection

and Fitting of Noise Generators and

Hearing Aids for Tinnitus Patients.’’

Proceedings of the Fifth International

Tinnitus Seminar, 1995).

In recent years there have been

significant advances in assistive devices

that enhance the ability of individuals

to integrate more successfully in

personal and business arenas. In a

survey by one of the largest

organizations for the HoH, Self-Help for

the Hard of Hearing (SHHH), it was

found that nearly half of its membership

used assistive listening devices, both

personal devices and large room

systems (Sorkin, D., ‘‘Understanding

Our Needs: The SHHH Member Survey

Looks at Hearing Aids.’’ SHHH Journal,

Vol. 16, No. 4, 1995). Perhaps the most

promising new technology for

broadening the application of assistive

devices is ASR. The potential for using

speech-to-print mechanisms based on

ASR offers promising benefits including

real-time transcription in meetings and

automated telephone relay services to

HoH persons. However, the mechanisms

to realize the full potential of those

benefits for this population remain to be

developed.

There is a need for improvements in

the shielding of hearing aid components

from the emission of extraneous

electronic signals. The Federal

government is working to establish

standards to reduce those signals from

a multitude of devices regulated by the

Federal Communications Commission

(FCC). However, the probability of

blanket suppression of all sources is

low.

Proposed Priority 4

The Secretary proposes to establish an

RERC on hearing enhancement to

develop new and improve existing

technologies for persons who are HoH.

The RERC must:

(a) Evaluate current technology

available for hearing aids, ALDs,

tinnitus maskers, and ASR systems and

develop improvements for these

technologies including, but not limited

to, improved shielding for extraneous

electronic signals and new training and

fitting procedures for new multichannel aids;

(b) Develop and evaluate new,

emerging technology for integration into

more advanced versions of next

generation hearing aids and ALDs;

(c) Automate and simplify methods

for conducting hearing loss evaluation

in infants, children, and adults;

(d) Develop training and technical

assistance materials and provide

training and technical assistance to

hearing aid developers, technicians, and

appropriate organizations representing

persons who are HoH to enable them to

effectively address the hearing

enhancement needs of individuals who

are HoH;

(e) Develop and evaluate protocols for

incorporating improved tinnitus

masking technology into next generation

hearing aid models;

(f) Develop and evaluate protocols for

efficient integration of ASR with

interfacing needs of persons with

hearing loss including, but not limited

to, ‘‘real-time captioning,’’ automated

relay telephone systems, and personal

hand-held communicators; and

(g) Develop training and technical

assistance materials and provide

training and technical assistance to

hearing aid fitters, pediatric and

audiology personnel, appropriate

counseling organizations, and

organizations representing people who

are HoH to enable them to address

effectively the hearing aid needs and

adjustment to hearing loss problems

experienced by persons who are HoH

and also to provide appropriate

counseling and guidance to individuals

who experience tinnitus;

In carrying out the purposes of the

priority, the RERC shall coordinate on

research projects of mutual interest with

the NIDRR-funded RERCs on Universal

Telecommunications Access and

Communication Enhancement and the

NIDRR-funded RRTC on HoH/Late

Deafened.

Electronic Access to This Document

Anyone may view this document, as

well as all other Department of

Education documents published in the

Federal Register, in text or portable

document format (pdf) on the World

Wide Web at either of the following

sites:

http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm

http://www.ed.gov/news.html

To use the pdf you must have the

Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with

Search, which is available free at either

of the preceding sites. If you have

questions about using the pdf, call the

U.S. Government Printing Office toll

free at 1–888–293–6498.

Anyone may also view these

documents in text copy only on an

electronic bulletin board of the

Department. Telephone: (202) 219–1511

or, toll free, 1–800–222–4922. The

documents are located under Option

G—Files/Announcements, Bulletins and

Press Releases.

Note: The official version of this document

is the document published in the Federal

Register.

Invitation to Comment

Interested persons are invited to

submit comments and recommendations

regarding these proposed priorities. All

comments submitted in response to this

notice will be available for public

inspection, during and after the

comment period, in Room 3424, Switzer

Building, 330 C Street S.W.,

Washington, D.C., between the hours of

9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday

through Friday of each week except

Federal holidays.

Applicable Program Regulations: 34

CFR Parts 350 and 353.

Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 760–762.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Number 84.133E, Rehabilitation Engineering

Research Centers)

Dated: October 23, 1997.

Judith E. Heumann,

Assistant Secretary for Special Education and

Rehabilitative Services.

[FR Doc. 97–28693 Filed 10–29–97; 8:45 am]

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