H. R. 1385—242
including cooperative research with public or private agen-
cies and organizations, designed to produce new scientific
knowledge, and new or improved methods, equipment, and
devices; and
‘‘(II) study new or emerging technologies, products,
or environments, and the effectiveness and benefits of such
technologies, products, or environments;
‘‘(ii) demonstrating and disseminating—
‘‘(I) innovative models for the delivery, to rural and
urban areas, of cost-effective rehabilitation technology serv-
ices that promote utilization of assistive technology devices;
and
‘‘(II) other scientific research to assist in meeting the
employment and independent living needs of individuals
with significant disabilities; or
‘‘(iii) conducting research or demonstration activities that
facilitate service delivery systems change by demonstrating,
evaluating, documenting, and disseminating—
‘‘(I) 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 that promote utilization of rehabilita-
tion technology; and
‘‘(II) other scientific research to assist in meeting the
employment and independent living needs of, and address-
ing the barriers confronted by, individuals with disabilities,
including individuals with significant disabilities.
‘‘(C) To the extent consistent with the nature and type of
research or demonstration activities described in subparagraph (B),
each Center established or supported through a grant made avail-
able under this paragraph shall—
‘‘(i) cooperate with programs established under the Tech-
nology-Related Assistance for Individuals With Disabilities Act
of 1988 (29 U.S.C. 2201 et seq.) and other regional and local
programs to provide information to individuals with disabilities
and the individuals’ representatives to—
‘‘(I) increase awareness and understanding of how
rehabilitation technology can address their needs; and
‘‘(II) increase awareness and understanding of the
range of options, programs, services, and resources avail-
able, including financing options for the technology and
services covered by the area of focus of the Center;
‘‘(ii) 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; and
‘‘(iii) respond, through research or demonstration activities,
to the needs of individuals with all types of disabilities who
may benefit from the application of technology within the area
of focus of the Center.
‘‘(D)(i) In establishing Centers to conduct the research or dem-
onstration activities described in subparagraph (B)(iii), the Director
may establish one Center in each of the following areas of focus:
‘‘(I) Early childhood services, including early intervention
and family support.
H. R. 1385—243
‘‘(II) Education at the elementary and secondary levels,
including transition from school to postschool activities.
‘‘(III) Employment, including supported employment, and
reasonable accommodations and the reduction of environmental
barriers as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act
of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) and title V.
‘‘(IV) Independent living, including transition from institu-
tional to community living, maintenance of community living
on leaving the workforce, self-help skills, and activities of daily
living.
‘‘(ii) Each Center conducting the research or demonstration
activities described in subparagraph (B)(iii) shall have an advisory
committee, of which the majority of members are individuals with
disabilities who are users of rehabilitation technology, and the
individuals’ representatives.
‘‘(E) Grants made under this paragraph shall be made on
a competitive basis and shall be for a period of 5 years, except
that the Director may make a grant for a period of less than
5 years if—
‘‘(i) the grant is made to a new recipient; or
‘‘(ii) the grant supports new or innovative research.
‘‘(F) To be eligible to receive a grant under this paragraph,
a prospective grant recipient shall submit an application to the
Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such informa-
tion as the Director may require.
‘‘(G) Each Center established or supported through a grant
made available under this paragraph shall—
‘‘(i) cooperate with State agencies and other local, State,
regional, and national programs and organizations developing
or delivering rehabilitation technology, including State pro-
grams funded under the Technology-Related Assistance for
Individuals With Disabilities Act of 1988 (29 U.S.C. 2201 et
seq.); and
‘‘(ii) prepare and submit to the Director as part of an
application for continuation of a grant, or as a final report,
a report that documents the outcomes of the program of the
Center in terms of both short- and long-term impact on the
lives of individuals with disabilities, and such other information
as may be requested by the Director.
‘‘(4)(A) Research grants may be used to conduct a program
for spinal cord injury research, including conducting such a program
by making grants to public or private agencies and organizations
to pay part or all of the costs of special projects and demonstration
projects for spinal cord injuries, that will—
‘‘(i) ensure widespread dissemination of research findings
among all Spinal Cord Injury Centers, to rehabilitation
practitioners, individuals with spinal cord injury, the individ-
uals’ representatives, and organizations receiving financial
assistance under this paragraph;
‘‘(ii) provide encouragement and support for initiatives and
new approaches by individual and institutional investigators;
and
‘‘(iii) establish and maintain close working relationships
with other governmental and voluntary institutions and
organizations engaged in similar efforts in order to unify and
H. R. 1385—244
coordinate scientific efforts, encourage joint planning, and pro-
mote the interchange of data and reports among spinal cord
injury investigations.
‘‘(B) Any agency or organization carrying out a project or dem-
onstration project assisted by a grant under this paragraph that
provides services to individuals with spinal cord injuries shall—
‘‘(i) establish, on an appropriate regional basis, a multidisci-
plinary system of providing vocational and other rehabilitation
services, specifically designed to meet the special needs of
individuals with spinal cord injuries, including acute care as
well as periodic inpatient or outpatient followup and services;
‘‘(ii) demonstrate and evaluate the benefits to individuals
with spinal cord injuries served in, and the degree of cost-
effectiveness of, such a regional system;
‘‘(iii) demonstrate and evaluate existing, new, and improved
methods and rehabilitation technology essential to the care,
management, and rehabilitation of individuals with spinal cord
injuries; and
‘‘(iv) demonstrate and evaluate methods of community out-
reach for individuals with spinal cord injuries and community
education in connection with the problems of such individuals
in areas such as housing, transportation, recreation, employ-
ment, and community activities.
‘‘(C) In awarding grants under this paragraph, the Director
shall take into account the location of any proposed Spinal Cord
Injury Center and the appropriate geographic and regional alloca-
tion of such Centers.
‘‘(5) Research grants may be used to conduct a program for
end-stage renal disease research, to include support of projects
and demonstrations for providing special services (including
transplantation and dialysis), artificial kidneys, and supplies nec-
essary for the rehabilitation of individuals with such disease and
which will—
‘‘(A) ensure dissemination of research findings;
‘‘(B) provide encouragement and support for initiatives and
new approaches by individuals and institutional investigators;
and
‘‘(C) establish and maintain close working relationships
with other governmental and voluntary institutions and
organizations engaged in similar efforts,
in order to unify and coordinate scientific efforts, encourage joint
planning, and promote the interchange of data and reports among
investigators in the field of end-stage renal disease. No person
shall be selected to participate in such program who is eligible
for services for such disease under any other provision of law.
‘‘(6) Research grants may be used to conduct a program for
international rehabilitation research, demonstration, and training
for the purpose of developing new knowledge and methods in the
rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities in the United States,
cooperating with and assisting in developing and sharing informa-
tion found useful in other nations in the rehabilitation of individuals
with disabilities, and initiating a program to exchange experts
and technical assistance in the field of rehabilitation of individuals
with disabilities with other nations as a means of increasing the
levels of skill of rehabilitation personnel.
H. R. 1385—245
‘‘(7) Research grants may be used to conduct a research program
concerning the use of existing telecommunications systems (includ-
ing telephone, television, satellite, radio, and other similar systems)
which have the potential for substantially improving service delivery
methods, and the development of appropriate programming to meet
the particular needs of individuals with disabilities.
‘‘(8) Research grants may be used to conduct a program of
joint projects with the National Institutes of Health, the National
Institute of Mental Health, the Health Services Administration,
the Administration on Aging, the National Science Foundation,
the Veterans’ Administration, the Department of Health and
Human Services, the National Aeronautics and Space Administra-
tion, other Federal agencies, and private industry in areas of joint
interest involving rehabilitation.
‘‘(9) Research grants may be used to conduct a program of
research related to the rehabilitation of children, or older individ-
uals, who are individuals with disabilities, including older American
Indians who are individuals with disabilities. Such research pro-
gram may include projects designed to assist the adjustment of,
or maintain as residents in the community, older workers who
are individuals with disabilities on leaving the workforce.
‘‘(10) Research grants may be used to conduct a research pro-
gram to develop and demonstrate innovative methods to attract
and retain professionals to serve in rural areas in the rehabilitation
of individuals with disabilities, including individuals with signifi-
cant disabilities.
‘‘(11) Research grants may be used to conduct a model research
and demonstration project designed to assess the feasibility of
establishing a center for producing and distributing to individuals
who are deaf or hard of hearing captioned video cassettes providing
a broad range of educational, cultural, scientific, and vocational
programming.
‘‘(12) Research grants may be used to conduct a model research
and demonstration program to develop innovative methods of
providing services for preschool age children who are individuals
with disabilities, including—
‘‘(A) early intervention, assessment, parent counseling,
infant stimulation, early identification, diagnosis, and evalua-
tion of children who are individuals with significant disabilities
up to the age of five, with a special emphasis on children
who are individuals with significant disabilities up to the age
of three;
‘‘(B) such physical therapy, language development, pedi-
atric, nursing, psychological, and psychiatric services as are
necessary for such children; and
‘‘(C) appropriate services for the parents of such children,
including psychological and psychiatric services, parent counsel-
ing, and training.
‘‘(13) Research grants may be used to conduct a model research
and training program under which model training centers shall
be established to develop and use more advanced and effective
methods of evaluating and addressing the employment needs of
individuals with disabilities, including programs that—
‘‘(A) provide training and continuing education for person-
nel involved with the employment of individuals with disabil-
ities;