Sentence:  These provisions are designed to reflect the differences in wealth and population among the States , with the objective that a vocationally handicapped person have access to needed services <WSD>regardless</WSD> of whether he resides in a State with a low or high per capita income or a sparsely or thickly populated State . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  in spite of everything; without regard to drawbacks