Return to NYCASE Resources Index Page

Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (S.2432)

Congress passed the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (ATA) on October 14,
1998, and the bill is awaiting President Clinton's signature. The bill was
introduced on September 2, 1998, and was reported out of the Senate Labor and
Human Resources Committee by unanimous voice vote on September 9. The
report number is 105-334. Senators Jeffords, Bond, Harkin, Kerry, McConnell,
Collins, Kennedy, Reed, Frist, DeWine, Bingaman, D'Amato, Cochran, Sarbanes,
Reid, Johnson, Wellstone, Warner, Dodd, Faircloth, Ford, and Mikulski were the
co-sponsors. The bill includes the substance of the legislation introduced by
Representative Deal and House Speaker Newt Gingrich that would authorize a
national public Internet site.

The purposes of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (ATA) are to:

support States in sustaining and strengthening their capacity to address the
assistive technology needs of individuals with disabilities;
focus the investment in technology, across Federal agencies and
departments, that could benefit individuals with disabilities; and
support micro-loan programs to provide assistance to individuals who
desire to purchase assistive technology devices or services.

The ATA reaffirms the Federal role of promoting access to assistive technology
devices and services for individuals with disabilities. The bill allows States
flexibility in responding to the assistive technology needs of their citizens with
disabilities, and does not disrupt the accomplishments of States over the last
decade through the State assistive technology programs funded under the Tech
Act.

Title I authorizes funding for multiple grant programs from fiscal years 1999
through 2004: continuity grants and grants to protection and advocacy systems,
as well as funding for a technical assistance program. The bill streamlines and
clarifies expectations, including those related to accountability, associated with
continuing Federal support for State assistive technology programs. The bill
targets specific, proven activities as priorities, referred to as "mandatory
activities." All State grantees must set measurable goals in connection to their
use of ATA funds, and both the goals and the approach to measuring the goals
must be based on input from individuals with disabilities in the State. The
authorization level will be $36 million for fiscal year 1999, and such sums for
fiscal years 2000 through 2004.

Title II provides for increased coordination of Federal efforts related to assistive
technology and universal design, and authorizes funding for multiple grant
programs from fiscal years 1999 through 2004: Title II strengthens the mandate
of the Interagency Committee on Disability Research ("ICDR") to include
assistive technology and universal design research, and authorizes funding for
joint research projects by ICDR members. Title II also provides for increased
cooperation between the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research ("NIDRR," which oversees the State Tech Projects) and the Federal
Laboratories Consortium.

In addition, Title II authorizes:

increased funding for Small Business Innovative Research grants (an
existing program under the Small Business Act) related to assistive
technology;
funding for grants to commercial or other organizations for research and
development related to universal design concepts;
funding for grants or other mechanisms to address the unique assistive
technology needs of urban and rural areas, and of children and the elderly;
funding for grants or other mechanisms to improve training of
rehabilitation engineers and technicians; and
funding for the President's Commission on the Employment of People with
Disabilities to work with the private sector to promote the development of
accessible information technologies.

The authorization level for Title II will be $10 million for fiscal year 1999, and
such sums for fiscal years 2000 through 2004.

Title III provides for alternative financing mechanisms for people with disabilities
to purchase assistive technology devices and services from fiscal years 1999
through 2004. Title III requires the Secretary to award grants to States and
outlying areas to pay for the Federal share of the establishment (or expansion)
and administration of specified types of alternative financing systems for
assistive technology for people with disabilities. These funds may be used to
establish specified types of loan programs for individuals with disabilities, and will
not be used simply to purchase assistive technology for individuals. The
authorization level will be $10 million for fiscal year 1999, and such sums for
fiscal years 2000 through 2004.

Return to NYCASE Resources Index Page