[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 34, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 34CFR345.2]

[Page 222-223]
 
                           TITLE 34--EDUCATION
 
            REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
 
PART 345--STATE GRANTS PROGRAM FOR TECHNOLOGY-RELATED ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES--Table of Contents
 
                           Subpart A--General
 
Sec.  345.2  What are the purposes of the State grants program for technology-related assistance for individuals with disabilities?

    The purposes of this program are to provide financial assistance to 
States to support systems change and advocacy activities designed to 
assist each State in developing and implementing a consumer-responsive 
comprehensive statewide program of technology-related assistance, for 
individuals with disabilities of all ages, that is designed to--
    (a)(1) Increase the availability of, funding for, access to, and 
provision of, assistive technology devices and assistive technology 
services;
    (2) Increase the active involvement of individuals with disabilities 
and their family members, guardians, advocates, and authorized 
representatives, in the planning, development, implementation, and 
evaluation of the program;
    (3) Increase the involvement of individuals with disabilities and, 
if appropriate, their family members, guardians, advocates, or 
authorized representatives, in decisions related to the provision of 
assistive technology devices and assistive technology services;
    (4) Increase the provision of outreach to underrepresented 
populations and rural populations, to enable the two populations to 
enjoy the benefits of programs carried out to accomplish the purposes 
described in this section to the same extent as other populations;
    (5) Increase and promote coordination among State agencies, and 
between State agencies and private entities, that are involved in 
carrying out activities under this part, particularly providing 
assistive technology devices and assistive technology services, that 
accomplish a purpose described in another paragraph of this section;
    (6)(i) Increase the awareness of laws, regulations, policies, 
practices, procedures, and organizational structures, that facilitate 
the availability or provision of assistive technology devices and 
assistive technology services; and

[[Page 223]]

    (ii) Facilitate the change of laws, regulations, policies, 
practices, procedures, and organizational structures, that impede the 
availability or provision of assistive technology devices and assistive 
technology services;
    (7) Increase the probability that individuals with disabilities of 
all ages will, to the extent appropriate, be able to secure and maintain 
possession of assistive technology devices as these individuals make the 
transition between services offered by human service agencies or between 
settings of daily living;
    (8) Enhance the skills and competencies of individuals involved in 
providing assistive technology devices and assistive technology 
services;
    (9) Increase awareness and knowledge of the efficacy of assistive 
technology devices and assistive technology services among--
    (i) Individuals with disabilities and their family members, 
guardians, advocates, and authorized representatives;
    (ii) Individuals who work for public agencies, or for private 
entities (including insurers), that have contact with individuals with 
disabilities;
    (iii) Educators and related services personnel;
    (iv) Technology experts (including engineers);
    (v) Employers; and
    (vi) Other appropriate individuals;
    (10) Increase the capacity of public agencies and private entities 
to provide and pay for assistive technology devices and assistive 
technology services on a statewide basis for individuals with 
disabilities of all ages; and
    (11) Increase the awareness of the needs of individuals with 
disabilities for assistive technology devices and for assistive 
technology services.
    (b)(1) Identify Federal policies that facilitate payment for 
assistive technology devices and assistive technology services.
    (2) Identify Federal policies that impede this payment.
    (3) Eliminate inappropriate barriers to this payment.
    (c) Enhance the ability of the Federal Government to provide States 
with--
    (1) Technical assistance, information, training, and public 
awareness programs relating to the provision of assistive technology 
devices and assistive technology services; and
    (2) Funding for demonstration projects.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 2201(b); section 2(b) of the Act)