Memo to Ms. Rachel Potter

DATE: October 31, 2006

TO: Rachel Potter

Desk Officer

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

FROM: Jeremy Buzzell

Program Specialist

Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)

SUBJECT: Review of Data Collection Package under Paperwork Reduction Act: Assistive Technology Act -- Data Collection Instrument for Statewide AT Programs

Background

The amendments to the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (AT Act) were signed into law on October 25, 2004. These amendments significantly changed the nature of the state grant for AT program (SGAT), including requiring Statewide AT Programs to conduct new activities and to report data on those activities. The enclosed information collection package addresses these requirements.

The enclosed materials are the result of a year-long process that brought together AT Act stakeholders, data collection experts, and RSA to determine the most effective and least burdensome way to meet the requirements of the AT Act while also meeting the needs of RSA and states and outlying areas receiving grants. For a full description of stakeholder involvement, please see pages 5-6 of the Supporting Statement.

Prior to the 2004 amendments to the AT Act, data collection for the SGAT program was conducted using an OMB-approved information collection (OMB # 1820-0572). This information collection expired as of May 31, 2005, after OMB granted an extension. Because of the significant changes needed to respond to the new AT Act requirements, RSA chose to let the information collection expire rather than to seek immediate renewal. Now that the data collection has been modified to meet the requirements of the amended AT Act through the process mentioned above, RSA is requesting a reinstatement with change.

The initial draft of this information collection was published for 60 days of public comment in the Federal Register on June 8, 2006. The materials enclosed include changes resulting from public comment. A description of how RSA responded to public comment is included in Attachment A.

Contents of Information Collection Package

Included in this information collection package are:

• An 83-I

• A supporting statement

• Summary of Changes Based on Public Comment

• Summary of State-level and State Leadership Activities

• Measurable Goals from State Plans for AT

• Relevant Sections of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended

• Burden Statement

• Data Collection Instrument

• Instruction Manual

• P.L. 108-364 The Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended

If you have questions about these contents, please contact me at (202) 245-7319 or [email protected] or Robert Groenendaal at (202) 245-7393 or [email protected]

Sincerely,

Jeremy Buzzell

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