 
         CHAPTER 33--EDUCATION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
 
SUBCHAPTER IV--NATIONAL ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN WITH 
                              DISABILITIES
 
     Part B--Coordinated Research, Personnel Preparation, Technical 
          Assistance, Support, and Dissemination of Information
 
 subpart 2--improving early intervention, educational, and transitional 
services and results for children with disabilities through coordinated 
     technical assistance, support, and dissemination of information
 
Sec. 1487. Technology development, demonstration, and 
        utilization; and media services
        

(a) In general

    The Secretary shall competitively make grants to, and enter into 
contracts and cooperative agreements with, eligible entities to support 
activities described in subsections (b) and (c) of this section.

(b) Technology development, demonstration, and utilization; authorized 
        activities

                           (1) In general

        In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall support 
    activities to promote the development, demonstration, and 
    utilization of technology.

                      (2) Authorized activities

        Activities that may be carried out under this subsection include 
    activities such as the following:
            (A) Conducting research and development activities on the 
        use of innovative and emerging technologies for children with 
        disabilities.
            (B) Promoting the demonstration and use of innovative and 
        emerging technologies for children with disabilities by 
        improving and expanding the transfer of technology from research 
        and development to practice.
            (C) Providing technical assistance to recipients of other 
        assistance under this section, concerning the development of 
        accessible, effective, and usable products.
            (D) Communicating information on available technology and 
        the uses of such technology to assist children with 
        disabilities.
            (E) Supporting the implementation of research programs on 
        captioning or video description.
            (F) Supporting research, development, and dissemination of 
        technology with universal-design features, so that the 
        technology is accessible to individuals with disabilities 
        without further modification or adaptation.
            (G) Demonstrating the use of publicly-funded 
        telecommunications systems to provide parents and teachers with 
        information and training concerning early diagnosis of, 
        intervention for, and effective teaching strategies for, young 
        children with reading disabilities.

(c) Educational media services; authorized activities

    In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall support--
        (1) educational media activities that are designed to be of 
    educational value to children with disabilities;
        (2) providing video description, open captioning, or closed 
    captioning of television programs, videos, or educational materials 
    through September 30, 2001; and after fiscal year 2001, providing 
    video description, open captioning, or closed captioning of 
    educational, news, and informational television, videos, or 
    materials;
        (3) distributing captioned and described videos or educational 
    materials through such mechanisms as a loan service;
        (4) providing free educational materials, including textbooks, 
    in accessible media for visually impaired and print-disabled 
    students in elementary, secondary, postsecondary, and graduate 
    schools;
        (5) providing cultural experiences through appropriate nonprofit 
    organizations, such as the National Theater of the Deaf, that--
            (A) enrich the lives of deaf and hard-of-hearing children 
        and adults;
            (B) increase public awareness and understanding of deafness 
        and of the artistic and intellectual achievements of deaf and 
        hard-of-hearing persons; or
            (C) promote the integration of hearing, deaf, and hard-of-
        hearing persons through shared cultural, educational, and social 
        experiences; and

        (6) compiling and analyzing appropriate data relating to the 
    activities described in paragraphs (1) through (5).

(d) Applications

    Any eligible entity that wishes to receive a grant, or enter into a 
contract or cooperative agreement, under this section shall submit an 
application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Secretary may require.

(e) Authorization of appropriations

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1998 through 
2002.

(Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 687, as added Pub. L. 105-17, title I, 
Sec. 101, June 4, 1997, 111 Stat. 154.)


                            Prior Provisions

    Prior sections 1491 to 1491o, which comprised former subchapter IX 
of this chapter, were repealed by Pub. L. 105-17, title II, Sec. 203(a), 
June 4, 1997, 111 Stat. 157, effective Oct. 1, 1998.
    Section 1491, Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 701, as added Pub. L. 
103-382, title III, Sec. 315, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3937, provided 
that former subchapter IX of this chapter could be cited as the 
``Families of Children With Disabilities Support Act of 1994''.
    Section 1491a, Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 702, as added Pub. L. 
103-382, title III, Sec. 315, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3937, related to 
findings, purposes, and policy.
    Section 1491b, Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 703, as added Pub. L. 
103-382, title III, Sec. 315, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3939, related to 
definitions.
    Section 1491c, Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 704, as added Pub. L. 
103-382, title III, Sec. 315, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3943, related to 
grants to States.
    Section 1491d, Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 705, as added Pub. L. 
103-382, title III, Sec. 315, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3944, related to 
information and assurances required in application for grant.
    Section 1491e, Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 706, as added Pub. L. 
103-382, title III, Sec. 315, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3946, related to 
designation of lead entity by State desiring to receive grant.
    Section 1491f, Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 707, as added Pub. L. 
103-382, title III, Sec. 315, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3946, related to 
designation or establishment by State of a State Policy Council for 
Families of Children with Disabilities and its composition, functions, 
etc.
    Section 1491g, Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 708, as added Pub. L. 
103-382, title III, Sec. 315, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3949, related to 
activities authorized for use of grant funds.
    Section 1491h, Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 709, as added Pub. L. 
103-382, title III, Sec. 315, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3951, related to 
creation and submission of strategic plan by lead entity of State in 
conjunction with State Policy Council.
    Section 1491i, Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 710, as added Pub. L. 
103-382, title III, Sec. 315, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3952, related to 
progress criteria and reports.
    Section 1491j, Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 711, as added Pub. L. 
103-382, title III, Sec. 315, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3952, related to 
administrative provisions.
    Section 1491k, Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 712, as added Pub. L. 
103-382, title III, Sec. 315, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3953, related to 
technical assistance.
    Section 1491l, Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 713, as added Pub. L. 
103-382, title III, Sec. 315, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3954, related to 
program evaluation by Secretary.
    Section 1491m, Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 714, as added Pub. L. 
103-382, title III, Sec. 315, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3955, related to 
projects of national significance.
    Section 1491n, Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 715, as added Pub. L. 
103-382, title III, Sec. 315, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3955, related to 
construction of provisions of subchapters I through VIII of this chapter 
as being inapplicable to subchapter IX of this chapter.
    Section 1491o, Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 716, as added Pub. L. 
103-382, title III, Sec. 315, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3955, related to 
authorization of appropriations.
