§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.
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Prior Provisions
Prior sections 1491 to 1491o, which comprised former subchapter IX of this chapter, were repealed by
Section 1491,
Section 1491a,
Section 1491b,
Section 1491c,
Section 1491d,
Section 1491e,
Section 1491f,
Section 1491g,
Section 1491h,
Section 1491i,
Section 1491j,
Section 1491k,
Section 1491l,
Section 1491m,
Section 1491n,
Section 1491o,