[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 9, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81919-81920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-23377]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Community Living


Announcing the Intent To Award a Single-Source Supplement for 
University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Core 
Function Activities

AGENCY: Administration for Community Living, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Community Living (ACL) announces the 
intent to award a single-source supplement to the current grant held by 
the Oregon Health and Science University Center for Excellence in 
Developmental Disabilities. The purpose of this supplemental funding is 
to support one or more core function activities to address the needs of 
and provide support for individuals with intellectual and developmental 
disabilities (I/DD) who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication 
(AAC) or could benefit from AAC to ensure access to needed community 
services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that 
promote self-determination, independence, productivity, and integration 
and inclusion in all facets of community life. The administrative 
supplement for fiscal year 2024 will amount to $270,000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or comments 
regarding this program supplement, contact Pamela O'Brien, U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community 
Living, Administration on Disabilities, (202) 795-7417 or via email 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#efbf8e828a838ec1a0ad9d868a81af8e8c83c187879cc1888099"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f3a3929e969f92ddbcb1819a969db392909fdd9b9b80dd949c85">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This supplementary funding will expand the 
engagement and technical assistance efforts around supporting people 
who use AAC devices to live well in the community. It will increase the 
capacity of the Oregon Health and Science University for Excellence in 
Developmental Disabilities (OHSU UCEDD) to broaden its reach and 
increase its impact by carrying out activities that address the needs 
of an unserved/underserved population--people with I/DD who use AAC or 
could benefit from AAC.
    As a result of this funding, ACL expects the OHSU UCEDD will carry 
out one or more of the four core functions activities, which could 
include but are not limited to:
    <bullet> Interdisciplinary Training: Training of future 
practitioners about the benefits of AAC and how to support access to 
AAC.
    <bullet> Community Service: Supporting a community of AAC users for 
peer-to-peer networking, support, and exchange of ideas for addressing 
barriers to accessing AAC.
    <bullet> Research: Conducting research such as research on the 
benefits of peer connections amongst AAC users.
    <bullet> Information Dissemination: Developing and disseminating 
materials to assist others in accessing AAC and sharing findings from 
research with the UCEDD network and DD Community.
    This supplement will fund enhanced efforts related to developing a 
network of AAC users to connect them where they otherwise would not be 
able to connect with each other.
    Program Name: University Center for Excellence in Developmental 
Disabilities Education, Research and Service.
    Recipient: Oregon Health and Science University Center for 
Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.
    Period of Performance: The supplement award will be issued from 
September 30, 2024, through September 29, 2025.
    Total Supplement Award Amount: $270,000.
    Award Type: Grant.
    Statutory Authority: This program is authorized under 42 U.S.C 
15062(d).
    Basis for Award: Due to the low incidence of communication 
disabilities associated with the use of AAC, there are very few experts 
in this specialty area. OHSU is a designated UCEDD with extensive 
expertise and experience in AAC. The UCEDD has conducted research and 
led teams on development of assistive technology, intervention 
planning, AAC peer support models, and assessment protocols for both 
children and adults. The UCEDD completed several AAC externally funded 
innovative projects that addressed public health, device development 
and evaluation, and interventions for young children. The UCEDD is 
currently developing a network of AAC users to connect them where they 
otherwise would not be able to connect with each other. The 
supplemental funding will leverage the experience and expertise of the 
OHSU UCEDD to focus on this unserved/underserved population and 
strengthen the UCEDD's work in this area.


[[Page 81920]]


    Dated: October 3, 2024.
Alison Barkoff,
Principal Deputy Administrator for the Administration for Community 
Living, performing the delegable duties of the Administrator and the 
Assistant Secretary for Aging.
[FR Doc. 2024-23377 Filed 10-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-01-P


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