20 U.S.C. § 1473 — Technical assistance for parent training

Page 1017 TITLE 20—EDUCATION § 1473 port community parent resource centers that will help ensure that underserved parents of children with disabilities, including low in- come parents, parents of limited English pro- ficient children, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information the parents need to enable the parents to participate effec- tively in helping their children with disabil- ities— (A) to meet developmental and functional goals, and challenging academic achieve- ment goals that have been established for all children; and (B) to be prepared to lead productive inde- pendent adult lives, to the maximum extent possible. (2) Definition of local parent organization In this section, the term ‘‘local parent orga- nization’’ means a parent organization, as de- fined in section 1471(a)(2) of this title, that— (A) has a board of directors the majority of whom are parents of children with disabil- ities ages birth through 26 from the commu- nity to be served; and (B) has as its mission serving parents of children with disabilities who— (i) are ages birth through 26; and (ii) have the full range of disabilities de- scribed in section 1401(3) of this title. (b) Required activities Each community parent resource center as- sisted under this section shall— (1) provide training and information that meets the training and information needs of parents of children with disabilities proposed to be served by the grant, contract, or cooper- ative agreement; (2) carry out the activities required of par- ent training and information centers under paragraphs (2) through (9) of section 1471(b) of this title; (3) establish cooperative partnerships with the parent training and information centers funded under section 1471 of this title; and (4) be designed to meet the specific needs of families who experience significant isolation from available sources of information and sup- port. (Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 672, as added Pub. L. 108–446, title I, § 101, Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2791.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 1472, Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 672, as added Pub. L. 105–17, title I, § 101, June 4, 1997, 111 Stat. 136, related to research and innovation to improve serv- ices and results for children with disabilities, prior to the general amendment of subchapters I to IV of this chapter by Pub. L. 108–446. Another prior section 1472, Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 672, as added Pub. L. 99–457, title I, § 101(a), Oct. 8, 1986, 100 Stat. 1146; amended Pub. L. 100–630, title I, § 108(b), Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3301; Pub. L. 101–476, title VIII, § 801, title IX, § 901(b)(162), (163), Oct. 30, 1990, 104 Stat. 1141, 1149; Pub. L. 102–119, §§ 12, 25(b), Oct. 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 595, 607, related to definitions, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105–17, title II, § 203(b), June 4, 1997, 111 Stat. 157, effective July 1, 1998. § 1473. Technical assistance for parent training and information centers (a) Program authorized (1) In general The Secretary may, directly or through awards to eligible entities, provide technical assistance for developing, assisting, and co- ordinating parent training and information programs carried out by parent training and information centers receiving assistance under section 1471 of this title and community par- ent resource centers receiving assistance under section 1472 of this title. (2) Definition of eligible entity In this section, the term ‘‘eligible entity’’ has the meaning given the term in section 1461(b) of this title. (b) Authorized activities The Secretary may provide technical assist- ance to a parent training and information cen- ter or a community parent resource center under this section in areas such as— (1) effective coordination of parent training efforts; (2) dissemination of scientifically based re- search and information; (3) promotion of the use of technology, in- cluding assistive technology devices and as- sistive technology services; (4) reaching underserved populations, includ- ing parents of low-income and limited English proficient children with disabilities; (5) including children with disabilities in general education programs; (6) facilitation of transitions from— (A) early intervention services to pre- school; (B) preschool to elementary school; (C) elementary school to secondary school; and (D) secondary school to postsecondary en- vironments; and (7) promotion of alternative methods of dis- pute resolution, including mediation. (c) Collaboration with the resource centers Each eligible entity receiving an award under subsection (a) shall develop collaborative agree- ments with the geographically appropriate re- gional resource center and, as appropriate, the regional educational laboratory supported under section 9564 of this title, to further parent and professional collaboration. (Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 673, as added Pub. L. 108–446, title I, § 101, Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2791.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 1473, Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 673, as added Pub. L. 105–17, title I, § 101, June 4, 1997, 111 Stat. 139, related to personnel preparation to improve serv- ices and results for children with disabilities, prior to the general amendment of subchapters I to IV of this chapter by Pub. L. 108–446. Another prior section 1473, Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 673, as added Pub. L. 99–457, title I, § 101(a), Oct. 8, 1986, 100 Stat. 1147; amended Pub. L. 101–476, title IX, § 901(b)(164), Oct. 30, 1990, 104 Stat. 1150; Pub. L. 102–119, Page 1018 TITLE 20—EDUCATION § 1474 § 25(b), Oct. 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 607, related to general au- thority of Secretary to make grants to States for de- velopment of system to provide early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105–17, title II, § 203(b), June 4, 1997, 111 Stat. 157, effective July 1, 1998. § 1474. Technology development, demonstration, and utilization; media services; and instruc- tional materials (a) Program authorized (1) In general The Secretary, on a competitive basis, shall award grants to, and enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with, eligible entities to support activities described in subsections (b) and (c). (2) Definition of eligible entity In this section, the term ‘‘eligible entity’’ has the meaning given the term in section 1461(b) of this title. (b) Technology development, demonstration, and use (1) In general In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall support activities to promote the devel- opment, demonstration, and use of tech- nology. (2) Authorized activities The following activities may be carried out under this subsection: (A) Conducting research on and promoting the demonstration and use of innovative, emerging, and universally designed tech- nologies for children with disabilities, by improving the transfer of technology from research and development to practice. (B) Supporting research, development, and dissemination of technology with universal design features, so that the technology is ac- cessible to the broadest range of individuals with disabilities without further modifica- tion or adaptation. (C) Demonstrating the use of systems to provide parents and teachers with informa- tion and training concerning early diagnosis of, intervention for, and effective teaching strategies for, young children with reading disabilities. (D) Supporting the use of Internet-based communications for students with cognitive disabilities in order to maximize their aca- demic and functional skills. (c) Educational media services (1) In general In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall support— (A) educational media activities that are designed to be of educational value in the classroom setting to children with disabil- ities; (B) providing video description, open cap- tioning, or closed captioning, that is appro- priate for use in the classroom setting, of— (i) television programs; (ii) videos; (iii) other materials, including programs and materials associated with new and emerging technologies, such as CDs, DVDs, video streaming, and other forms of multi- media; or (iv) news (but only until September 30, 2006); (C) distributing materials described in sub- paragraphs (A) and (B) through such mecha- nisms as a loan service; and (D) providing free educational materials, including textbooks, in accessible media for visually impaired and print disabled stu- dents in elementary schools and secondary schools, postsecondary schools, and graduate schools. (2) Limitation The video description, open captioning, or closed captioning described in paragraph (1)(B) shall be provided only when the description or captioning has not been previously provided by the producer or distributor, or has not been fully funded by other sources. (d) Applications (1) In general Any eligible entity that wishes to receive a grant, or enter into a contract or cooperative agreement, under subsection (b) or (c) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such in- formation as the Secretary may require. (2) Special rule For the purpose of an application for an award to carry out activities described in sub- section (c)(1)(D), such eligible entity shall— (A) be a national, nonprofit entity with a proven track record of meeting the needs of students with print disabilities through services described in subsection (c)(1)(D); (B) have the capacity to produce, main- tain, and distribute in a timely fashion, up- to-date textbooks in digital audio formats to qualified students; and (C) have a demonstrated ability to signifi- cantly leverage Federal funds through other public and private contributions, as well as through the expansive use of volunteers. (e) National Instructional Materials Access Cen- ter (1) In general The Secretary shall establish and support, through the American Printing House for the Blind, a center to be known as the ‘‘National Instructional Materials Access Center’’ not later than 1 year after December 3, 2004. (2) Duties The duties of the National Instructional Ma- terials Access Center are the following: (A) To receive and maintain a catalog of print instructional materials prepared in the National Instructional Materials Accessi- bility Standard, as established by the Sec- retary, made available to such center by the textbook publishing industry, State edu- cational agencies, and local educational agencies. (B) To provide access to print instruc- tional materials, including textbooks, in ac- cessible media, free of charge, to blind or