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Sec. 106. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 107. Repeals.
TITLE II—PROGRAMS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE
Sec. 201. National classification system.
Sec. 202. Training and demonstration projects.
TITLE III—ALTERNATIVE FINANCING MECHANISMS
Sec. 301. Alternative financing mechanisms authorized.
TITLE IV—AMENDMENTS TO OTHER ACTS
Sec. 401. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Sec. 402. Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Sec. 403. Administrative requirements under the Head Start Act.
Sec. 404. Technical and conforming amendments.
TITLE V—EFFECTIVE DATE
Sec. 501. Effective date.
SEC. 2. REFERENCES.
Except as otherwise specifically provided, whenever in
this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an
amendment to, or a repeal of, a section or other provision,
the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or
other provision of the Technology-Related Assistance for Indi-
viduals With Disabilities Act of 1988 (29 U.S.C. 2201 et
seq.).
SEC. 3. FINDINGS, PURPOSES, AND POLICY.
(a) SECTION HEADING.—Section 2 (29 U.S.C. 2201) is
amended by striking the heading and inserting the following:
‘‘SEC. 2. FINDINGS, PURPOSES, AND POLICY.’’.
(b) FINDINGS.—Section 2(a) (29 U.S.C. 2201(a)) is
amended to read as follows:
‘‘(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds as follows:
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‘‘(1) Disability is a natural part of the human expe-
rience and in no way diminishes the right of individuals
to—
‘‘(A) live independently;
‘‘(B) enjoy self-determination;
‘‘(C) make choices;
‘‘(D) pursue meaningful careers; and
‘‘(E) enjoy full inclusion and integration in the
economic, political, social, cultural, and educational
mainstream of American society.
‘‘(2) During the past decade, there have been major
advances in modern technology. Technology is now a
powerful force in the lives of all residents of the United
States. Technology can provide important tools for mak-
ing the performance of tasks quicker and easier.
‘‘(3) For some individuals with disabilities, assistive
technology devices and assistive technology services are
necessary to enable the individuals—
‘‘(A) to have greater control over their lives;
‘‘(B) to participate in, and contribute more
fully to, activities in their home, school, and work
environments, and in their communities;
‘‘(C) to interact to a greater extent with indi-
viduals who do not have disabilities; and
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‘‘(D) to otherwise benefit from opportunities
that are taken for granted by individuals who do
not have disabilities.
‘‘(4) Substantial progress has been made in the de-
velopment of assistive technology devices, including ad-
aptations to existing equipment, that significantly bene-
fit individuals with disabilities of all ages. Such devices
can be used to increase the involvement of such individ-
uals in, and reduce expenditures associated with, pro-
grams and activities such as early intervention, edu-
cation, rehabilitation and training, employment, residen-
tial living, independent living, recreation, and other as-
pects of daily living.
‘‘(5) Most States have technology-related assistance
programs carried out under this Act. In spite of the ef-
forts made by such programs, there remains a need to
support systems change and advocacy activities in order
to assist States to develop and implement consumer-re-
sponsive, comprehensive statewide programs of tech-
nology-related assistance for individuals with disabilities
of all ages.
‘‘(6) Notwithstanding the efforts of such State tech-
nology-related assistance programs, there is still a lack
of—
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‘‘(A) resources to pay for assistive technology
devices and assistive technology services;
‘‘(B) trained personnel to assist individuals
with disabilities to use such devices and services;
‘‘(C) information among individuals with dis-
abilities and their family members, guardians, advo-
cates, and authorized representatives, individuals
who work for public agencies, or for private entities
(including insurers), that have contact with individ-
uals with disabilities, educators and related service
personnel, technology experts (including engineers),
employers, and other appropriate individuals about
the availability and potential of technology for indi-
viduals with disabilities;
‘‘(D) aggressive outreach to underrepresented
populations and rural populations;
‘‘(E) systems that ensure timely acquisition
and delivery of assistive technology devices and
assistive technology services, particularly with re-
spect to children;
‘‘(F) coordination among State human services
programs, and between such programs and private
entities, particularly with respect to transitions be-
tween such programs and entities; and
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‘‘(G) capacity in such programs to provide the
necessary technology-related assistance.
‘‘(7) Many individuals with disabilities cannot ac-
cess existing telecommunications and information tech-
nologies and are at risk of not being able to access devel-
oping technologies. The failure of Federal and State gov-
ernments, hardware manufacturers, software designers,
information systems managers, and telecommunications
service providers to account for the specific needs of in-
dividuals with disabilities results in the exclusion of such
individuals from the use of telecommunications and in-
formation technologies and results in unnecessary costs
associated with the retrofitting of devices and product
systems.
‘‘(8) There are insufficient incentives for the com-
mercial pursuit of the application of technology devices
to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities, because
of the perception that such individuals constitute a lim-
ited market.
‘‘(9) At the Federal level, there is a lack of coordi-
nation among agencies that provide or pay for the provi-
sion of assistive technology devices and assistive tech-
nology services. In addition, the Federal Government
does not provide adequate assistance and information
with respect to the use of assistive technology devices
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and assistive technology services to individuals with dis-
abilities and their family members, guardians, advocates,
and authorized representatives, individuals who work for
public agencies, or for private entities (including insur-
ers), that have contact with individuals with disabilities,
educators and related services personnel, technology ex-
perts (including engineers), employers, and other appro-
priate individuals.’’.
(c) PURPOSES.—Section 2(b) (29 U.S.C. 2201(b)) is
amended to read as follows:
‘‘(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are as fol-
lows:
‘‘(1) To provide financial assistance to the States to
support systems change and advocacy activities designed
to assist each State in developing and implementing a
consumer-responsive comprehensive statewide program
of technology-related assistance, for individuals with dis-
abilities of all ages, that is designed to—
‘‘(A) increase the availability of, funding for,
access to, and provision of, assistive technology de-
vices and assistive technology services;
‘‘(B) increase the active involvement of individ-
uals with disabilities and their family members,
guardians, advocates, and authorized representa-
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tives, in the planning, development, implementation,
and evaluation of such a program;
‘‘(C) increase the involvement of individuals
with disabilities and, if appropriate, their family
members, guardians, advocates, or authorized rep-
resentatives, in decisions related to the provision of
assistive technology devices and assistive technology
services;
‘‘(D) increase the provision of outreach to
underrepresented populations and rural populations,
to enable the two populations to enjoy the benefits
of programs carried out to accomplish purposes de-
scribed in this paragraph to the same extent as
other populations;
‘‘(E) increase and promote coordination among
State agencies, and between State agencies and pri-
vate entities, that are involved in carrying out ac-
tivities under this title, particularly providing
assistive technology devices and assistive technology
services, that accomplish a purpose described in an-
other subparagraph of this paragraph;
‘‘(F)(i) increase the awareness of laws, regula-
tions, policies, practices, procedures, and organiza-
tional structures, that facilitate the availability or
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provision of assistive technology devices and
assistive technology services; and
‘‘(ii) facilitate the change of laws, regulations,
policies, practices, procedures, and organizational
structures, that impede the availability or provision
of assistive technology devices and assistive tech-
nology services;
‘‘(G) increase the probability that individuals
with disabilities of all ages will, to the extent appro-
priate, be able to secure and maintain possession of
assistive technology devices as such individuals
make the transition between services offered by
human service agencies or between settings of daily
living;
‘‘(H) enhance the skills and competencies of
individuals involved in providing assistive technology
devices and assistive technology services;
‘‘(I) increase awareness and knowledge of the
efficacy of assistive technology devices and assistive
technology services among—
‘‘(i) individuals with disabilities and their
family members, guardians, advocates, and au-
thorized representatives;
‘‘(ii) individuals who work for public agen-
cies, or for private entities (including insurers),
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that have contact with individuals with disabil-
ities;
‘‘(iii) educators and related services per-
sonnel;
‘‘(iv) technology experts (including engi-
neers);
‘‘(v) employers; and
‘‘(vi) other appropriate individuals;
‘‘(J) increase the capacity of public agencies
and private entities to provide and pay for assistive
technology devices and assistive technology services
on a statewide basis for individuals with disabilities
of all ages; and
‘‘(K) increase the awareness of the needs of in-
dividuals with disabilities for assistive technology
devices and for assistive technology services.
‘‘(2) To identify Federal policies that facilitate pay-
ment for assistive technology devices and assistive tech-
nology services, to identify Federal policies that impede
such payment, and to eliminate inappropriate barriers to
such payment.
‘‘(3) To enhance the ability of the Federal Govern-
ment to provide States with—
‘‘(A) technical assistance, information, train-
ing, and public awareness programs relating to the
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provision of assistive technology devices and
assistive technology services; and
‘‘(B) funding for demonstration projects.’’.
(d) POLICY.—Section 2 (29 U.S.C. 2201) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
‘‘(c) POLICY.—It is the policy of the United States that
all programs, projects, and activities receiving assistance
under this Act shall be consumer-responsive and shall be car-
ried out in a manner consistent with the principles of—
‘‘(1) respect for individual dignity, personal respon-
sibility, self-determination, and pursuit of meaningful ca-
reers, based on informed choice, of individuals with dis-
abilities;
‘‘(2) respect for the privacy, rights, and equal ac-
cess (including the use of accessible formats), of such in-
dividuals;
‘‘(3) inclusion, integration, and full participation of
such individuals;
‘‘(4) support for the involvement of a family mem-
ber, a guardian, an advocate, or an authorized represent-
ative, if an individual with a disability requests, desires,
or needs such support; and
‘‘(5) support for individual and systems advocacy
and community involvement.’’.
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SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
Section 3 (29 U.S.C. 2202) is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (8) as
paragraphs (2), (3), (7), (8), (10), (11), (13), and (14),
respectively;
(2) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as redesig-
nated by paragraph (1)) the following:
‘‘(1) ADVOCACY
SERVICES.—The term ‘advocacy
services’, except as used as part of the term ‘protection
and advocacy services’, means services—
‘‘(A) provided to assist individuals with disabil-
ities and their family members, guardians, advo-
cates, and authorized representatives in accessing
assistive technology devices and assistive technology
services; and
‘‘(B) provided through—
‘‘(i) individual case management for indi-
viduals with disabilities;
‘‘(ii) representation of individuals with
disabilities (other than representation within
the definition of protection and advocacy serv-
ices);
‘‘(iii) training of individuals with disabil-
ities and their family members, guardians, ad-
vocates, and authorized representatives to suc-
cessfully conduct advocacy for themselves; or
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‘‘(iv) dissemination of information.’’;
(3) in paragraph (3)(E) (as redesignated by para-
graph (1)), by striking ‘‘family’’ and all that follows and
inserting ‘‘the family members, guardians, advocates, or
authorized representatives of such an individual; and’’;
(4) by inserting after paragraph (3) (as redesig-
nated by paragraph (1)) the following:
‘‘(4) COMPREHENSIVE
STATEWIDE
PROGRAM
OF
TECHNOLOGY-RELATED
ASSISTANCE.—The term ‘com-
prehensive statewide program of technology-related as-
sistance’ means a statewide program of technology-relat-
ed assistance developed and implemented by a State
under title I that—
‘‘(A) addresses the needs of all individuals with
disabilities, including members of underrepresented
populations and members of rural populations;
‘‘(B) addresses such needs without regard to
the age, type of disability, race, ethnicity, or gender
of such individuals, or the particular major life ac-
tivity for which such individuals need the assistance;
and
‘‘(C) addresses such needs without requiring
that the assistance be provided through any particu-
lar agency or service delivery system.
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‘‘(5) 
CONSUMER-RESPONSIVE.—The 
term
‘consumer-responsive’ means, with respect to an entity,
program, or activity, that the entity, program, or activ-
ity—
‘‘(A) is easily accessible to, and usable by, indi-
viduals with disabilities and, when appropriate,
their family members, guardians, advocates, or au-
thorized representatives;
‘‘(B) responds to the needs of individuals with
disabilities in a timely and appropriate manner; and
‘‘(C) facilitates the full and meaningful partici-
pation of individuals with disabilities (including in-
dividuals from underrepresented populations and
rural populations) and their family members, guard-
ians, advocates, and authorized representatives,
in—
‘‘(i) decisions relating to the provision of
assistive technology devices and assistive tech-
nology services; and
‘‘(ii) the planning, development, imple-
mentation, and evaluation of the comprehensive
statewide program of technology-related assist-
ance.
‘‘(6) DISABILITY.—The term ‘disability’ means a
condition of an individual that is considered to be a dis-
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ability or handicap for the purposes of any Federal law
other than this Act or for the purposes of the law of the
State in which the individual resides.’’;
(5) by striking paragraph (7) (as redesignated by
paragraph (1)) and inserting the following:
‘‘(7) INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY; INDIVIDUALS
WITH DISABILITIES.—
‘‘(A) INDIVIDUAL
WITH
A
DISABILITY.—The
term ‘individual with a disability’ means any indi-
vidual—
‘‘(i) who has a disability; and
‘‘(ii) who is or would be enabled by an
assistive technology device or an assistive tech-
nology service to minimize deterioration in
functioning, to maintain a level of functioning,
or to achieve a greater level of functioning in
any major life activity.
‘‘(B) INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.—The
term ‘individuals with disabilities’ means more than
one individual with a disability.’’;
(6) in paragraph (8) (as redesignated by paragraph
(1))—
(A) by striking ‘‘section 435(b)’’ and inserting
‘‘section 1201(a)’’; and
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(B) by striking ‘‘1965’’ and inserting ‘‘1965
(20 U.S.C. 1141(a))’’;
(7) by inserting after paragraph (8) (as redesig-
nated by paragraph (1)) the following:
‘‘(9) PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY SERVICES.—The
term ‘protection and advocacy services’ means services
that—
‘‘(A) are described in part C of the Devel-
opmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights
Act (42 U.S.C. 6041 et seq.), the Protection and
Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals Act (42
U.S.C. 10801 et seq.), or section 509 of the Reha-
bilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794e); and
‘‘(B) assist individuals with disabilities with re-
spect to assistive technology devices and assistive
technology services.’’;
(8) in paragraph (11) (as redesignated by para-
graph (1))—
(A) by striking ‘‘several States’’ and inserting
‘‘several States of the United States’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘Virgin Islands’’ and inserting
‘‘United States Virgin Islands’’; and
(C) by striking ‘‘the Trust Territory of the Pa-
cific Islands’’ and inserting ‘‘the Republic of Palau
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(until the Compact of Free Association with Palau
takes effect)’’;
(9) by inserting after such paragraph (11) the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(12) SYSTEMS
CHANGE
AND
ADVOCACY
ACTIVI-
TIES.—The term ‘systems change and advocacy activi-
ties’ means efforts that result in laws, regulations, poli-
cies, practices, or organizational structures that promote
consumer-responsive programs or entities and that facili-
tate and increase access to, provision of, and funding
for, assistive technology devices and assistive technology
services on a permanent basis, in order to empower indi-
viduals with disabilities to achieve greater independence,
productivity, and integration and inclusion within the
community and the work force.’’;
(10) in paragraph (13) (as redesignated by para-
graph (1))—
(A) by striking ‘‘functions performed and ac-
tivities carried out under section 101’’ and inserting
‘‘assistance provided through systems change and
advocacy activities’’; and
(B) by inserting ‘‘any of subparagraphs (A)
through (K) of’’ before ‘‘section 2(b)(1)’’; and
(11) by amending paragraph (14) (as redesignated
by paragraph (1)) to read as follows:
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‘‘(14) 
UNDERREPRESENTED
POPULATION.—The
term ‘underrepresented population’ includes a population
such as minorities, the poor, and persons with limited-
English proficiency.’’.
TITLE I—GRANTS TO STATES
SEC. 101. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
(a) GRANTS
TO STATES.—Section 101(a) (29 U.S.C.
2211(a)) is amended—
(1) by inserting after ‘‘provisions of this title’’ the
following: ‘‘to support systems change and advocacy ac-
tivities designed’’; and
(2) by striking ‘‘to develop and implement’’ and in-
serting ‘‘in developing and implementing’’.
(b) ACTIVITIES.—Section 101 (29 U.S.C. 2211) is
amended by striking subsections (b) and (c) and inserting the
following:
‘‘(b) ACTIVITIES.—Any State that receives a grant under
section 102 or 103 shall use the funds made available
through the grant to accomplish the purposes described in
section 2(b)(1) and, in accomplishing such purposes, may
carry out any of the following systems change and advocacy
activities:
‘‘(1) MODEL SYSTEMS AND ALTERNATIVE STATE-FI-
NANCED SYSTEMS.—The State may support activities to
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increase access to, and funding for, assistive technology,
including—
‘‘(A) the development, and evaluation of the ef-
ficacy, of model delivery systems that provide
assistive technology devices and assistive technology
services to individuals with disabilities, that pay for
such devices and services, and that, if successful,
could be replicated or generally applied, such as—
‘‘(i) the development of systems for the
purchase, lease, other acquisition, or payment
for the provision, of assistive technology de-
vices and assistive technology services; or
‘‘(ii) the establishment of alternative State
or privately financed systems of subsidies for
the provision of assistive technology devices
and assistive technology services, such as—
‘‘(I) a loan system for assistive tech-
nology devices;
‘‘(II) an income-contingent loan fund;
‘‘(III) a low-interest loan fund;
‘‘(IV) a revolving loan fund;
‘‘(V) a loan insurance program; or
‘‘(VI) a partnership with private enti-
ties for the purchase, lease, or other ac-
quisition of assistive technology devices
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and the provision of assistive technology
services;
‘‘(B) the demonstration of assistive technology
devices, including—
‘‘(i) the provision of a location or locations
within the State where—
‘‘(I) individuals with disabilities and
their family members, guardians, advo-
cates, and authorized representatives;
‘‘(II) education, rehabilitation, health
care, and other service providers;
‘‘(III) individuals who work for Fed-
eral, State, or local government entities;
and
‘‘(IV) employers,
can see and touch assistive technology devices,
and learn about the devices from personnel
who are familiar with such devices and their
applications;
‘‘(ii) the provision of counseling and as-
sistance to individuals with disabilities and
their family members, guardians, advocates,
and authorized representatives to determine in-
dividual needs for assistive technology devices
and assistive technology services; and
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‘‘(iii) the demonstration or short-term
loan of assistive technology devices to individ-
uals, employers, public agencies, or public ac-
commodations seeking strategies to comply
with the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) and section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29
U.S.C. 794); and
‘‘(C) the establishment of information systems
about, and recycling centers for, the redistribution
of assistive technology devices and equipment that
may include device and equipment loans, rentals, or
gifts.
‘‘(2) INTERAGENCY
COORDINATION.—The State
may support activities—
‘‘(A) to identify and coordinate Federal and
State policies, resources, and services, relating to
the provision of assistive technology devices and
assistive technology services, including entering into
interagency agreements;
‘‘(B) to convene interagency work groups to
enhance public funding options and coordinate ac-
cess to funding for assistive technology devices and
assistive technology services for individuals with dis-
abilities of all ages, with special attention to the is-
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sues of transition (such as transition from school to
work, and transition from participation in programs
under part H of the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.), to partici-
pation in programs under part B of such Act (20
U.S.C. 1411 et seq.)) home use, and individual in-
volvement in the identification, planning, use, deliv-
ery, and evaluation of such devices and services; or
‘‘(C) to document and disseminate information
about interagency activities that promote coordina-
tion with respect to assistive technology devices and
assistive technology services, including evidence of
increased participation of State and local special
education, vocational rehabilitation, and State medi-
cal assistance agencies and departments.
‘‘(3) OUTREACH.—The State may carry out activi-
ties to encourage the creation or maintenance of, sup-
port, or provide assistance to, statewide and community-
based organizations, or systems, that provide assistive
technology devices and assistive technology services to
individuals with disabilities or that assist individuals
with disabilities in using assistive technology devices and
assistive technology services. Such activities may include
outreach to consumer organizations and groups in the
State to coordinate the activities of the organizations
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and groups with efforts (including self-help, support
groups, and peer mentoring) to assist individuals with
disabilities and their family members, guardians, advo-
cates, or authorized representatives, to obtain funding
for, and access to, assistive technology devices and
assistive technology services.
‘‘(4) EXPENSES.—The State may pay for expenses,
including travel expenses, and services, including services
of qualified interpreters, readers, and personal care as-
sistants, that may be necessary to ensure access to the
comprehensive statewide program of technology-related
assistance by individuals with disabilities who are deter-
mined by the State to be in financial need.
‘‘(5) STATEWIDE NEEDS ASSESSMENT.—The State
may conduct a statewide needs assessment that may be
based on data in existence on the date on which the as-
sessment is initiated and may include—
‘‘(A) estimates of the numbers of individuals
with disabilities within the State, categorized by
residence, type and extent of disabilities, age, race,
gender, and ethnicity;
‘‘(B) in the case of an assessment carried out
under a development grant, a description of efforts,
during the fiscal year preceding the first fiscal year
for which the State received such a grant, to pro-