103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2339
AN ACT
To revise and extend the programs of the Technology-Related
Assistance for Individuals With Disabilities Act of 1988,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
‘‘Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals With Dis-
abilities Amendments of 1993’’.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for
this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
TITLE I—GRANTS TO STATES
Sec. 101. Program authorized.
Sec. 102. Development grants.
Sec. 103. Extension grants.
Sec. 104. Second extension grants.
Sec. 105. Progress reports.
Sec. 106. Administrative provisions.
Sec. 107. Information and technical assistance.
Sec. 108. Funding.
TITLE II—PROGRAMS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE
Sec. 201. Programs authorized.
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. Technical and conforming amendments.
TITLE V—EFFECTIVE DATE
Sec. 501. Effective date.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) FINDINGS.—Section 2(a) of the Technology-Re-
lated Assistance for Individuals With Disabilities Act of
1988 (29 U.S.C. 2201(a)) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds as follows:
‘‘(1) Disability is a natural part of the human
experience and in no way diminishes the right of in-
dividuals—
‘‘(A) to live independently;
‘‘(B) to enjoy self-determination;
‘‘(C) to make choices;
‘‘(D) to contribute to society;
‘‘(E) to pursue meaningful careers; and
‘‘(F) to 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 making the performance of tasks quicker
and easier. For some individuals with disabilities,
assistive technology is a necessity that enables them
to engage in or perform many tasks.
‘‘(3) The provision of assistive technology de-
vices and services enables some individuals with dis-
abilities—
‘‘(A) to have greater control over their own
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
nondisabled individuals; and
‘‘(D) to otherwise benefit from opportuni-
ties that are taken for granted by individuals
who do not have disabilities.
‘‘(4) Substantial progress has been made in the
development of assistive technology devices, includ-
ing adaptations to existing equipment, which signifi-
cantly benefit individuals of all ages with disabilities.
Such devices have increased the involvement of indi-
viduals with disabilities in programs and activities
such as early intervention, education, rehabilitation
and training, employment, residential living, inde-
pendent living, recreation, and other aspects of daily
living. Dual-use technology is critical to the further
development of assistive technology devices.
‘‘(5) Many individuals with disabilities cannot
access existing telecommunications and information
technologies and are at risk of not being able to ac-
cess developing technologies. The inadvertent failure
of Federal and State governments, hardware manu-
facturers, software designers, information systems
managers, and telecommunications service providers
to account for the specific needs of individuals with
disabilities not only results in the exclusion of such
individuals from the use of telecommunications and
information technologies, but also results in unneces-
sary costs associated with the retrofitting of devices
and product systems.
‘‘(6) The use of assistive technology devices and
services by individuals with disabilities increases
such individuals’ ability to be independent, which re-
duces expenditures associated with early interven-
tion, education, rehabilitation, health care, transpor-
tation, telecommunication services, and other serv-
ices required by such individuals.
‘‘(7) A majority of States have technology-relat-
ed assistance programs. In spite of the efforts made
by such programs to provide comprehensive, state-
wide services, there remains a need for—
‘‘(A) resources to pay for assistive tech-
nology devices and services;
‘‘(B) trained personnel to assist individuals
with disabilities to use such devices and serv-
ices;
‘‘(C) information about the availability and
potential of technology for individuals with dis-
abilities and their family members, guardians,
advocates, and authorized representatives, rep-
resentatives of public agencies and private enti-
ties that have contact with individuals with dis-
abilities (including insurers), teachers and relat-
ed services personnel, technology experts (in-
cluding engineers), employers, and other appro-
priate individuals;
‘‘(D) 
aggressive 
outreach 
to 
under-
represented populations and rural populations;
‘‘(E) coordination among State human
services programs, and among such programs
and private entities, particularly with respect to
transitions between such programs and entities;
and
‘‘(F) capacity of such programs to provide
the necessary technology-related assistance.
‘‘(8) There are insufficient incentives for the
commercial pursuit of the application of technology
devices to meet the needs of individuals with disabil-
ities, because of limited markets.
‘‘(9) At the Federal level, there is a lack of co-
ordination among agencies that provide or pay for
the provision of assistive technology devices and
services. In addition, the Federal Government does
not provide adequate assistance and information
with respect to the use of assistive technology de-
vices and services to individuals with disabilities and
their family members, guardians, advocates, and au-
thorized representatives, representatives of public
agencies and private entities that have contact with
individuals with disabilities (including insurers),
teachers and related services personnel, technology
experts (including engineers), employers, and other
appropriate individuals.’’.
(b) PURPOSES.—Section 2(b) of the Technology-Re-
lated Assistance for Individuals With Disabilities Act of
1988 (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 develop and implement a consumer-respon-
sive, consumer-driven, comprehensive statewide pro-
gram of technology-related assistance for individuals
of all ages with disabilities that is designed to create
systemic change and foster advocacy by—
‘‘(A) increasing the availability of, funding
for, and access to, assistive technology devices
and services for individuals with disabilities;
‘‘(B) increasing the active involvement of
individuals with disabilities and their family
members, guardians, advocates, and authorized
representatives in the planning, development,
implementation, and evaluation of technology-
related assistance programs;