[Federal Register: October 30, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 210)]
[Notices]
[Page 58861-58867]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30oc97-143]
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_______________________________________________________________________
Part VI
Department of Education
_______________________________________________________________________
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research;
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers; Proposed Funding
Priorities for Fiscal Years 98-99; Notices
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research;
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers; Proposed Funding
Priorities for Fiscal Years 1998-99
AGENCY: Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of Proposed Funding Priorities for Fiscal Years 1998-
1999 for Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Secretary proposes funding priorities for four
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERCs) under the National
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) for fiscal
years 1998-1999. The Secretary takes this action to focus research
attention on areas of national need. These priorities are intended to
improve rehabilitation services and outcomes for individuals with
disabilities.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 1, 1997.
ADDRESSES: All comments concerning these proposed priorities should be
addressed to Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Maryland
Avenue, S.W., room 3418, Switzer Building, Washington, D.C. 20202-2645.
Comments may also be sent through the Internet: comment@ed.gov
You must include the term ``Engineering Research Centers'' in the
electronic message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle. Telephone: (202) 205-
5880. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the TDD number at (202) 205-2742. Internet:
Donna__Nangle@ed.gov
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the preceding
paragraph.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice contains proposed priorities
under the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers
program for RERCs related to information technology access,
communication enhancement, ergonomic solutions for employment, and
hearing enhancement.
The authority for RERCs is contained in section 204(b)(3) of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 762(b)(3)). Under
this program the Secretary makes awards to public and private agencies
and organizations, including institutions of higher education, Indian
tribes, and tribal organizations, to conduct research, demonstration,
and training activities regarding rehabilitation technology in order to
enhance opportunities for meeting the needs of, and addressing the
barriers confronted by, individuals with disabilities in all aspects of
their lives. An RERC must be operated by or in collaboration with an
institution of higher education or a nonprofit organization.
These proposed priorities support the National Education Goal that
calls for every adult American to possess the skills necessary to
compete in a global economy.
The authority for the Secretary to establish research priorities by
reserving funds to support particular research activities is contained
in sections 202(g) and 204 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as
amended (29 U.S.C. 761a(g) and 762).
The Secretary will announce the final priorities in a notice in the
Federal Register. The final priorities will be determined by responses
to this notice, available funds, and other considerations of the
Department. Funding of a particular project depends on the final
priority, the availability of funds, and the quality of the
applications received. The publication of these proposed priorities
does not preclude the Secretary from proposing additional priorities,
nor does it limit the Secretary to funding only these priorities,
subject to meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.
Note: This notice of proposed priorities does not solicit
applications. A notice inviting applications under this competition
will be published in the Federal Register concurrent with or
following the notice of final priorities.
Description of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center
Program
RERCs carry out research or demonstration activities by:
(a) Developing and disseminating innovative methods of applying
advanced technology, scientific achievement, and psychological and
social knowledge to (1) solve rehabilitation problems and remove
environmental barriers, and (2) study new or emerging technologies,
products, or environments;
(b) Demonstrating and disseminating (1) innovative models for the
delivery of cost-effective rehabilitation technology services to rural
and urban areas, and (2) other scientific research to assist in meeting
the employment and independent living needs of individuals with severe
disabilities; or
(c) Facilitating service delivery systems change through (1) the
development, evaluation, and dissemination of 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, and (2) other scientific research to assist in
meeting the employment and independent needs of individuals with severe
disabilities.
Each RERC must 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.
General
The Secretary proposes that the following requirements apply to
these RERCs pursuant to these absolute priorities unless noted
otherwise:
The RERC must have the capability to design, build, and test
prototype devices and assist in the transfer of successful solutions to
the marketplace. The RERC must evaluate the efficacy and safety of its
new products, instrumentation, or assistive devices.
The RERC must provide graduate-level research training to build
capacity for engineering research in the rehabilitation field and to
provide training in the applications of new technology to service
providers and to individuals with disabilities and their families.
The RERC must involve individuals with disabilities and, if
appropriate, their family members in planning and implementing the
research, development, and training programs, in interpreting and
disseminating the research findings, and in evaluating the Center.
The RERC must share information and data, and, as appropriate,
collaborate on research and training with other NIDRR-supported
grantees including, but not limited to, the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers, other
related RERCs and RRTCs, and grantees under the Technology-Related
Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act.
The RERC must conduct a state-of-the-science conference in the
third year of the grant and publish a comprehensive report on the final
outcomes of the conference in the fourth year of the grant.
The RERC must develop and implement a utilization plan for ensuring
that all new and improved technologies developed by the RERC are
[[Page 58863]]
successfully transferred to the marketplace.
The RERC must develop and implement in consultation with the NIDRR-
supported National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research
a plan to disseminate the RERC's research results to disability
organizations, persons with disabilities, businesses, manufacturers,
professional journals, and other appropriate parties.
Priorities
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) the Secretary proposes to give an
absolute preference to applications that meet the following priorities.
The Secretary proposes to fund under this competition only applications
that meet one of these absolute priorities.
Proposed Priority 1: Information Technology Access
Background
High speed computers, high speed modems, sophisticated
telecommunication networks, cable networks, intranets, the Internet,
the World Wide Web (www), and satellites constitute an unparalled
global information network. However, the proliferation of information
technology has also created problems of accessibility for persons with
disabilities (Paciello, M., People with Disabilities Can't Access the
Web, Yuri Rubinsky Insight Foundation, 1997). Persons with disabilities
will be significantly disadvantaged if this new generation of
information technology is inaccessible. Promoting accessibility to this
dynamic field is a highly technical and complicated task that will
place unique demands on an RERC to serve as a resource to a wide range
of industry and government officials, as well as persons with
disabilities.
The Internet is expanding at a phenomenal rate. There were 1,000
Internet host computers worldwide in 1980. That number increased to
200,000 in 1996 and is expected to reach 12 million by the year 2000.
The number of Internet users has virtually doubled every year over the
past three years from an estimated 16 million in 1995 to 68 million in
1997 (Computer Industry Forecasts, Third Quarter, 1997). Emerging
nomadic technologies will enable individuals to access information
systems from virtually anywhere, at anytime, and in entirely visual,
audio, or mixed modes.
The Internet and World Wide Web are also undergoing dramatic
structural changes. Internet 2 is a consortium of academic institutions
planning to interconnect its members with a new high-bandwidth Internet
that will support advanced applications that are not possible or
practical on the current Internet (Kennedy, K., Testimony Before the
Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee; Subcommittee on
Communications, June 3, 1997). Once developed, the Next Generation
Internet will interconnect 100 Federal research institutions and their
research partners with a network capable of operating at speeds 100 to
1000 times faster than today's Internet (Lane, N., Testimony Before the
Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee; Subcommittee on
Communications, June 3, 1997). In spring of 1997, the International
World Wide Web Consortium held special workshops at their Sixth
International World Wide Web Conference that focused on developing
strategies for designing accessibility into the Web core environment.
New generations of computer and information technologies become
available long before anyone has fully grasped the implications of the
previous generation (Kelly, H., Testimony Before the Senate Commerce,
Science, and Transportation Committee; Subcommittee on Communications,
June 3, 1997). Product cycles and lifetimes are measured in months, not
years. There are many small high technology firms that remain virtually
unknown until they announce their product. These firms may have little,
or no experience with design accessibility. In addition, the industry
is highly competitive, and companies may not be willing to incorporate
accessible design features into their products if they believe it
involves additional development time and expense.
Designing accessible features into new information technologies
early in the design process provides persons with disabilities with
immediate access and is more cost effective than retrofitting.
Increasingly, functions are integrated onto single chips and
motherboards, obviating the need for third party accessories such as
sound cards or voice input devices, and making changes or modifications
to these built-in features difficult or impossible. The earlier
accessibility occurs in the design process for new products, the easier
it is to incorporate accessibility features.
Universal design is a process whereby environments and products are
designed with built-in flexibility so they are usable by all people,
regardless of age and ability, at no additional cost to the user. While
advances in computers and information technologies create new
opportunities for some individuals, they create barriers for others.
Information presented in graphical modes (i.e., images, photographs,
icons) pose problems for people who are blind unless there are built-in
``hooks'' that can be identified by the user's screen reader.
Conversely, audio cues (beeps) do not convey information to individuals
who are deaf or hard of hearing. The proliferation of public access
terminals creates unique accessibility challenges. Access to these
terminals requires the use of keyboards, touch screens, telephone
handsets, and smart cards and will require the development of flexible,
multi-modal interface techniques that can work across all disabilities.
The ability to access computer-based information technologies is
quickly becoming a prerequisite for successful employment. Companies
are increasingly using internal networks, commonly referred to as
intranets, to share information within the company. This presents
unique problems for individuals with disabilities if the company uses
proprietary software and databases that are specifically designed for
their company and do not follow standard protocols. In those cases, the
information may be inaccessible to individuals who use assistive
devices (e.g., screen readers) to access their computers.
There are emerging information and communications policy issues
that will have an enormous impact on technology development. Section
508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the
Telecommunications Act of 1996 require the development of accessibility
standards and guidelines that direct government agencies, Federal
customers and contractors, manufacturers, and developers to address
accessibility for new and existing products.
Although computer and information technologies are expanding at
phenomenal rates, it is also important to recognize that there are many
individuals with disabilities who have problems accessing the current
generation of technologies (e.g., integrating assistive devices with
existing computer workstations). Continued support and guidance for
these individuals are necessary to promote access to the computers and
information systems they currently use.
Proposed Priority 1
The Secretary proposes to establish an RERC on information
technology access for the purposes of developing technological
solutions and promoting access for individuals with disabilities to
current and emerging information technologies and technology
interfaces,
[[Page 58864]]
including hardware, software, networks, nomadic technologies, the
Internet and the World Wide Web. The RERC must:
(a) Develop and evaluate technological solutions in collaboration
with industry to promote accessibility and universal design at the
outset of the development of information technologies including
software, hardware, intranets, and nomadic technologies;
(b) Develop through research and in collaboration with industry
flexible, multi-modal interface techniques for computer and information
technologies that provide universal access for all individuals with
disabilities;
(c) Develop and disseminate strategies for integrating current
accessibility features into newer generations of computer and
information systems;
(d) Develop through research and in collaboration with Federal
agencies, universities and industry the technologies necessary to
promote access to current and emerging generations of the Internet and
the World Wide Web for persons with disabilities;
(e) Develop and evaluate technologies and strategies to promote
universal access to intranet systems;
(f) Provide technical assistance to public and private
organizations responsible for developing policies, guidelines and
standards that affect the accessibility of information technology
products and systems that are developed, manufactured, and implemented;
and
(g) Provide technical assistance and guidance to individuals with
disabilities and employers on accessibility problems affecting current
computer and information systems.
In carrying out the purposes of the priority, the RERC shall
coordinate on research projects of mutual interest with the NIDRR-
funded RERC on Telecommunications.
Proposed Priority 2: Communication Enhancement
Background
Speech and language disorders affect the way people talk and
understand language, range from mild to significant, and may be
developmental or acquired. According to the American Speech-Language
and Hearing Association (ASHA), approximately 14 million individuals
may be described as having a speech/language disorder (Bello, J.,
Communication Facts, ASHA Research Division, 1994). Two million of
those individuals experience significant communication disorders and
need access to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)
(Beukelman, D., Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Vol. 11,
June, 1995). For the purpose of this priority, augmentative and
alternative communication refers to all forms of communication that
enhance or supplement comprehension, speech, and writing, including
electronic devices and communication boards.
NIDRR is proposing to define the target population for this RERC as
those persons with significant communication disorders and is
particularly interested in receiving public comments on how the field
defines significant communication disorders.
Historically, augmentative and alternative communication has been
associated with specific technologies that provide individuals who have
significant communication disorders with some type of alternative
output. Research documenting successful AAC use has been confined
primarily to adolescents and adults with reasonably intact cognitive
capabilities and moderate to significant motor impairment (Shane, H.,
Presentation at ASHA Annual Convention, Seattle, 1995). This limited
approach does not address the needs of all persons with significant
communication disorders such as persons with mental retardation,
aphasia, traumatic brain injury, and autism. A more holistic approach
to communication enhancement strategies for persons with significant
communication disorders must take into account the complexities of
human language and incorporate those factors as unique physical,
cognitive, and sensory manifestations and individualized learning
styles.
There is a need for new and improved AAC technologies that take the
more holistic approach to AAC intervention by addressing input
technologies, language processing, and output strategies for a wide
range of disabilities. These new or improved technologies could address
an array of issues, including, but not limited to: speed enhancement
and rate of communication that enable the user to operate in or close
to real-time; cosmesis and aesthetics of devices; ergonomic and human
factors relationships to interventions and technologies for significant
communication disorders; quality, diversity, and naturalness of speech
output as it relates to a user's actual voice; human and machine
interface and multiple control options; using technology to reduce the
burden on users with physical disabilities; reliability, portability,
and cost; and developing and disseminating measurable outcomes of
research.
Studies of the brain and language acquisition emphasize the
importance of addressing the language needs of toddlers and school aged
children who use or could use AAC (Blackstone, S., Augmentative
Communication News, Vol. 10, No. 1, 1997). Often children and others
with significant communication disorders encounter difficulty in
processing and comprehending spoken language. In order to address the
needs of these children and adults with significant communication
disorders, systems to enhance communication must support comprehension
as well as expression.
Reading and writing are interrelated skills that emerge as part of
an interactive language and communication process that begins early in
life and continues for approximately 6 years. This process is referred
to as emergent literacy. Users of AAC in contrast to those who do not
use AAC are often found to be in a phase of emergent literacy for many
more years (Koppenhaver, D., et. al., Technology and Disability, Vol
2., No. 3, 1993). Emergent literacy and AAC use are interrelated
processes. This relationship has an impact on the way in that the next
generation of technology for communication enhancement should be
studied and developed. Research issues related to emergent literacy of
AAC users include, but are not limited to: the effects of AAC use on
reading and writing development; differences in written language
development between AAC users and non-users; the effects of early AAC
use on emergent literacy; and the impact of different types of
technologies on better understanding and use of written language in AAC
users.
Aging presents a unique challenge to AAC researchers because
technologies must address linguistic, speech, and sensory deterioration
as well as tolerance for technology. As persons age, the need for
communication enhancement technology increases, yet, according to data
reported by the National Health Interview Survey in 1990 only six-
tenths of one percent of individuals aged 65 or older were using AAC
technology. Elderly persons with acquired communication disorders
encounter a lack of awareness on the part of service providers and an
absence of communication services in general.
To date there has been only minimal attention to the job options
available for persons with disabilities who use AAC. Anecdotal reports
suggest that individuals with severe communication disorders are
frequently considered unemployable. The high rate of unemployment
results from a number of
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factors including, but not limited to: lack of skills, inadequate job
preparation; attitudinal barriers; transportation barriers;
architectural and accommodation barriers; and limitations in the AAC
technology (Light, J., et. al., AAC, Vol. 12, 1996). Issues related to
unemployment for users of AAC devices include, but are not limited to,
compatibility with other technology on the worksite and the ability of
the AAC user to transition easily from one task to another.
There are over 40 companies in the United States developing,
manufacturing and distributing AAC devices. The next generation of
development must challenge conventional AAC approaches and improve the
way in that new technologies incorporate and blend principles of
communication theories and engineering. Communicative competence
ensures that individuals are able to attain communication goals that
include expressing needs and wants, developing social skills and
routines, and exchanging information (Light, J., AAC, Vol. 13, 1997).
Communication competence is built over time through improved science,
engineering, and the modification of environments, parameters,
opportunities and instruction as well as improving communication tools.
Proposed Priority 2
The Secretary proposes to establish an RERC on communication
enhancement to improve AAC technologies that can further the
development of communication, language, natural speech, discourse
skills, and literacy of persons with significant communication
disorders. The RERC must:
(a) Develop and evaluate in collaboration with industry improved
AAC technologies for individuals with significant communication
disorders;
(b) Develop and evaluate strategies that promote literacy
proficiency for AAC users;
(c) Develop and evaluate communication enhancement strategies and
AAC technologies that factor in the speech, linguistic and multiple
sensory needs of the elderly;
(d) Investigate and disseminate strategies to build the capacity of
service providers and increase their involvement with elderly persons
with significant communication disorders who use or could use AAC; and
(e) Identify barriers that negatively affect the employment status
of individuals with significant communication disorders who use, or
could use, AAC and develop and evaluate approaches to improve their
employment status.
In carrying out the purposes of the priority, the RERC must:
* Coordinate on research projects of mutual interest with
the NIDRR-funded RERC on Hearing Enhancement;
* Address the needs of individuals of all ages with
significant communication disorders including, but not limited to,
toddlers and the elderly; and
* Address the needs of persons with developmental
disabilities and acquired disabilities including but not limited to
mental retardation, aphasia, traumatic brain injury, and autism.
Proposed Priority 3: Ergonomic Solutions for Employment
Background
The familiar components of the work environment (i.e., tools,
machines, and equipment) often are designed without adequate
consideration for the people who must use them. Similarly, work tasks
may require capabilities that individuals do not have or cannot sustain
over long periods of time without injury. Improperly designed
workplaces can lead to fatigue, discomfort, and injury that result in
reduced productivity and increased costs for employers. These same work
environment components may present additional physical barriers to
persons with disabilities and negatively impact their employment
status.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 62 percent of all
workplace injuries in 1995 resulted from trauma caused by repetitive
stress injuries (RSI) (commonly referred to as cumulative trauma
disorders or CTDs)--up from 15 percent in the early 1980s. The National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates that
annual U.S. medical costs from repetitive stress injuries total $13
billion (NIOSH, ``Musculoskeletal Disorders and Workplace Factors,''
July, 1997), and the Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) has estimated overall costs at nearly $100
billion a year when one considers lost work time, lost productivity,
and retraining costs.
Ergonomics is an interdisciplinary field concerned with the
performance and safety of individuals at work and how they cope with
the work environment, interact with machines, and, in general,
negotiate their work surroundings (Scheer, S. and Mital, A.,
``Ergonomics,'' Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Volume
78, pg. 36, March, 1997). Ergonomic principles are based on a
combination of science, engineering, and biomechanics (the study of the
body as a system operating under two sets of laws: Newtonian mechanics
and the biological laws of life) and are used to promote the proper
design of products, workplaces, and equipment (Kroemer, K.H.E., et.
al., Ergonomics: How to Design for Ease & Efficiency, Prentice Hall,
N.J., pgs. 6-7, 1994). When these principles are applied correctly, the
incidence and severity of musculoskeletal disorders decrease (Stobbe,
T.J., ``Occupational Ergonomics and Injury Prevention,'' Occupational
Medicine, pgs. 531-543, July, 1996) thereby reducing the likelihood of
work related injuries and employer costs.
Cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) are a class of musculoskeletal
disorders involving nerves, tendons, muscles and supporting bony
structures (i.e., back, neck, shoulders, and hands). They represent a
wide range of disorders that can differ in severity from mild periodic
conditions to those that are severe, chronic and debilitating. Since
the early 1980s, there has been a dramatic increase in CTDs. OSHA
attributes much of this increase to changes in production processes and
technologies, resulting in more specialized tasks with increased
repetitions and higher assembly line speeds. Two of the most frequently
occurring, occupationally induced CTDs are carpal tunnel syndrome and
low back pain.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition caused by pressure on the
median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel of the wrist; it
results in the gradual onset of numbness and tingling in one's thumb
and the first two and a half fingers of the hand.
If allowed to continue, carpal tunnel syndrome may cause pain,
muscle atrophy at the base of the thumb, and clumsiness (Phalen, G.S.,
``The Carpal-Tunnel Syndrome: Seventeen Year's Experience in diagnosis
and Treatment of Six-Hundred Fifty-Four Hands,'' The Journal of Bone
and Joint Surgery, pgs. 211-228, 1996). Carpal tunnel syndrome is
recognized as a disabling condition of the hand caused by excessive or
repetitive movements, undesirable hand positions, or exertions that
impose prolonged loads on the affected tissues (Huenting, H., et. al.,
``Constrained Postures in Accounting Machine Operations,'' Applied
Ergonomic, Volume 11, pgs.145-149, 1980).
Improper working posture is a major factor in the development of
lower back pain. The strain on one's body may be caused by external
loads (e.g., when one lifts, lowers, pulls, pushes, carries, holds onto
heavy objects or any combination of these factors) or by simply moving
one's own body or by
[[Page 58866]]
maintaining postural support using muscle tension alone. In addition to
the loss in function and pain, the direct and indirect costs associated
with lower back injuries are significant. There is a need for reliable
and validated measurement tools to measure mechanical strains within
the body and to incorporate the various findings into models of strains
and capabilities (Kroemer, K.H.E., op. cit., pgs. 473-475).
The ability to perform physical work depends greatly upon a number
of variables including an individual's age, size, strength, overall
health and fitness, training, motivation, and one's physical dexterity.
A common approach to matching an individual's work capacity with
specific job tasks is to assess the individual's overall energy
capacity by measuring heart rate and oxygen consumption while on a
treadmill or bicycle ergometer and then comparing that information with
the amount of energy it takes for a ``normal'' person to do the
specific job tasks (Kroemer, K.H.E, op. cit., pgs. 118-131). Improper
matches can lead to early fatigue, and impact a person's ability to do
the job tasks safely and efficiently.
Individuals with disabilities present unique ergonomic challenges
particularly if they use assistive devices to overcome deficits and
function independently. The use of ergonomic knowledge in
rehabilitation engineering is widespread, ranging from wrist splints to
environmental control systems. Technology for people with significant
disabilities depends increasingly on the development and implementation
of sophisticated devices including voice input systems, screen readers,
and eye tracking systems. However, development alone of those types of
devices does not ensure success. It is sometimes necessary to
quantitatively measure one's residual capabilities and energy capacity
and compare these results with specific job tasks. After selecting the
appropriate ergonomic solutions, it is necessary to have the individual
demonstrate the usability of those solutions within the worksite
environment and make the necessary changes or adaptations to ensure
proper use and fit. There are testing devices and procedures that have
been developed to quantitatively measure the residual capabilities of
impaired persons, such as the Basic Elements of Performance Test and
the Available Motions Inventory Test (Smith, R.V. and Leslie, J.H.,
Rehabilitation Engineering, CRC Press, pgs. 127-143, 1990). These tests
measure an individual's ability for specific tasks (i.e., reach, grasp,
manipulation), but do not measure one's ability to incorporate complex
assistive devices into the workplace of people with significant
disabilities.
Elderly individuals are working longer than ever before and the
proportion of people with work disability (defined as a limitation in
work due to chronic illness or impairment) increases with age
(Disability Statistics Program, ``People with Work Disability in the
U.S.,'' Disability Statistics Abstract, U.S. Department of Education,
Volume 4, May, 1992). Older workers face unique ergonomic challenges
due to other changes that occur naturally as part of the aging process
(i.e., changes in biomechanical features, respiratory capabilities,
visual functions, hearing, reaction times, etc). Without proper
ergonomic design and strategies, older workers could well find
themselves at an unnecessary disadvantage due to compromised
productivity and health.
Proposed Priority 3
The Secretary proposes to establish an RERC on ergonomic solutions
for employment to develop ergonomic strategies and devices to reduce
and prevent the outset of cumulative trauma disorders and to assist
persons with disabilities in obtaining and maintaining appropriate
employment. The RERC must:
(a) Investigate the biomechanical factors that lead to cumulative
trauma disorders including, but not necessarily limited to, carpal
tunnel syndrome and low back injuries;
(b) Develop and evaluate worksite ergonomic analysis tools to
determine the causes of ergonomic stress associated with repetitive
motions, awkward postures, and excessive energy expenditure;
(c) Investigate and improve existing ergonomic strategies and
devices used to prevent cumulative trauma disorders and develop new
strategies when appropriate;
(d) Design and develop ergonomic strategies and devices for
integration of ergonomic solutions for workers with disabilities; and
(e) Design and develop ergonomic strategies and devices to reduce
and prevent cumulative trauma disorders among elderly workers.
In carrying out the purposes of the priority, the RERC shall
coordinate on research projects of mutual interest with the RRTC on
Workplace Supports to Improve Employment Outcomes.
Proposed Priority 4: Hearing Enhancement
Background
Individuals whose hearing is impaired, but who can understand
conversational speech with, or without, amplification are hard-of-
hearing (HoH). Individuals classified as HoH range in age from infants
to the elderly. The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), using
the ``Gallaudet Hearing Scale'' that is self-reporting and quantifies
the amount of interference with hearing in ordinary day-to-day
situations, estimates that the number of persons who are HoH and who
might benefit from using a hearing aid ranges from 20 million to 22
million (``National Health Survey,'' Series 10, No. 188, 1994).
Developments over the past five years have resulted in significant
growth in digital hearing aid technology, improved evaluation of
hearing loss, especially in very young children, improved computer
assisted fitting of hearing aids, and more cosmetically acceptable
hearing aids that do not sacrifice important functions for the sake of
appearance. Modern science and technology continue to offer even
greater opportunity for improvements in the simplification and
automation of hearing loss evaluation and in the proper fitting of
appropriate hearing aids to individual users. Concurrently there have
been important developments in related areas, such as assistive
listening devices (ALDs) and in automatic speech recognition (ASR), a
technology that enables a person to dictate words into a microphone and
have those words converted into computer-language text. The 1996
National Strategic Plan of the National Institute on Deafness and Other
Communication Disorders (NIDCD) reflects a growing realization that new
technology offers potential relief from the symptoms of tinnitus. New
developments in ultra-thin circuit boards and chips, flash ROM, better
power management, and other forms of emerging technology offer
increasing opportunities to expand features available in the next
generation of hearing enhancing devices.
While improving, consistent and early identification of hearing
loss in small children remains problematic. The diagnostic technology
needs to be simplified and made available to pediatric and child care
personnel with minimal training in audiology.
The proper fitting of hearing aids ensures that tonal quality,
amplification levels, and environmental noise are controlled to the
maximum extent
[[Page 58867]]
possible. New developments in sophisticated digital hearing technology
must be accompanied by new training and fitting procedures to ensure
that new multi-channel aids deliver maximum performance.
Tinnitus affects about 17 percent of the general population and
about 33 percent of the elderly (Jastreboff, P. and Hazell, J.,
``Neurophysiological Approaches to Tinnitus'' British Journal of
Audiology, 1993). Tinnitus is described as an incessant ringing in the
ears or other head noise that is heard when there is no external cause
for that noise. Currently, there is no cure for tinnitus (Goldstein, B.
& Shulman, A., ``Tinnitus Masking--A Longitudinal Study of Efficacy/
Diagnosis 1977-1994.'' Proceedings of the Fifth International Tinnitus
Seminar, 1995). Often, tinnitus accompanies hearing loss. However,
there are cases of severe hearing loss without tinnitus. Tinnitus also
occurs without evidence of other auditory system diseases or disorders.
This variation drives the need for better dual channel hearing aid/
tinnitus maskers and single channel tinnitus maskers. Although there
are currently some devices on the market that combine amplification and
masking, those efforts have not been widely accepted, possibly because
recent technical developments in miniaturizing have not been fully
exploited (Gold, S., et. al., ``Selection and Fitting of Noise
Generators and Hearing Aids for Tinnitus Patients.'' Proceedings of the
Fifth International Tinnitus Seminar, 1995).
In recent years there have been significant advances in assistive
devices that enhance the ability of individuals to integrate more
successfully in personal and business arenas. In a survey by one of the
largest organizations for the HoH, Self-Help for the Hard of Hearing
(SHHH), it was found that nearly half of its membership used assistive
listening devices, both personal devices and large room systems
(Sorkin, D., ``Understanding Our Needs: The SHHH Member Survey Looks at
Hearing Aids.'' SHHH Journal, Vol. 16, No. 4, 1995). Perhaps the most
promising new technology for broadening the application of assistive
devices is ASR. The potential for using speech-to-print mechanisms
based on ASR offers promising benefits including real-time
transcription in meetings and automated telephone relay services to HoH
persons. However, the mechanisms to realize the full potential of those
benefits for this population remain to be developed.
There is a need for improvements in the shielding of hearing aid
components from the emission of extraneous electronic signals. The
Federal government is working to establish standards to reduce those
signals from a multitude of devices regulated by the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC). However, the probability of blanket
suppression of all sources is low.
Proposed Priority 4
The Secretary proposes to establish an RERC on hearing enhancement
to develop new and improve existing technologies for persons who are
HoH. The RERC must:
(a) Evaluate current technology available for hearing aids, ALDs,
tinnitus maskers, and ASR systems and develop improvements for these
technologies including, but not limited to, improved shielding for
extraneous electronic signals and new training and fitting procedures
for new multi-channel aids;
(b) Develop and evaluate new, emerging technology for integration
into more advanced versions of next generation hearing aids and ALDs;
(c) Automate and simplify methods for conducting hearing loss
evaluation in infants, children, and adults;
(d) Develop training and technical assistance materials and provide
training and technical assistance to hearing aid developers,
technicians, and appropriate organizations representing persons who are
HoH to enable them to effectively address the hearing enhancement needs
of individuals who are HoH;
(e) Develop and evaluate protocols for incorporating improved
tinnitus masking technology into next generation hearing aid models;
(f) Develop and evaluate protocols for efficient integration of ASR
with interfacing needs of persons with hearing loss including, but not
limited to, ``real-time captioning,'' automated relay telephone
systems, and personal hand-held communicators; and
(g) Develop training and technical assistance materials and provide
training and technical assistance to hearing aid fitters, pediatric and
audiology personnel, appropriate counseling organizations, and
organizations representing people who are HoH to enable them to address
effectively the hearing aid needs and adjustment to hearing loss
problems experienced by persons who are HoH and also to provide
appropriate counseling and guidance to individuals who experience
tinnitus;
In carrying out the purposes of the priority, the RERC shall
coordinate on research projects of mutual interest with the NIDRR-
funded RERCs on Universal Telecommunications Access and Communication
Enhancement and the NIDRR-funded RRTC on HoH/Late Deafened.
Electronic Access to This Document
Anyone may view this document, as well as all other Department of
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or
portable document format (pdf) on the World Wide Web at either of the
following sites:
http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm
http://www.ed.gov/news.html
To use the pdf you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with
Search, which is available free at either of the preceding sites. If
you have questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government
Printing Office toll free at 1-888-293-6498.
Anyone may also view these documents in text copy only on an
electronic bulletin board of the Department. Telephone: (202) 219-1511
or, toll free, 1-800-222-4922. The documents are located under Option
G--Files/Announcements, Bulletins and Press Releases.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register.
Invitation to Comment
Interested persons are invited to submit comments and
recommendations regarding these proposed priorities. All comments
submitted in response to this notice will be available for public
inspection, during and after the comment period, in Room 3424, Switzer
Building, 330 C Street S.W., Washington, D.C., between the hours of
9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday of each week except
Federal holidays.
Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR Parts 350 and 353.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 760-762.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.133E,
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers)
Dated: October 23, 1997.
Judith E. Heumann,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 97-28693 Filed 10-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P