Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 112 Part 2.djvu/300

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112 STAT. 1184 PUBLIC LAW 105-220—AUG. 7, 1998 individuals with disabilities through vocational, medical, social, and psychological rehabilitation programs (including supported employment programs), through economic and business development programs, through independent living services programs, and through client assistance programs; and "(B) provide training to maintain and upgrade basic skills and knowledge of personnel (including personnel specifically trained to deliver services to individuals with disabilities whose employment outcome is self-employment or telecommuting) employed to provide state-of-the-art service delivery and rehabilitation technology services; "(2) conduct special projects and demonstrations that expgind and improve the provision of rehabilitation and other services (including those services provided through community rehabilitation programs) authorized under this Act, or that otherwise further the purposes of this Act, including related research and evaluation; "(3) provide vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities who are migrant or seasonal farmworkers; "(4) initiate recreational programs to provide recreational activities and related experiences for individuals with disabilities to aid such individuals in employment, mobility, socialization, independence, and community integration; and "(5) provide training and information to individuals with disabilities and the individuals' representatives, and other appropriate parties to develop the skills necessary for individuals with disabilities to gain access to the rehabilitation system and statewide workforce investment systems and to become active decisionmakers in the rehabilitation process. "(b) COMPETITIVE BASIS OF GRANTS AND CONTRACTS.The Secretary shall ensure that all grants and contracts are awarded under this title on a competitive basis. 29 USC 772. "SEC. 302. TRAINING. "(a) GRANTS AND CONTRACTS FOR PERSONNEL TRAINING. — "(1) AUTHORITY.— The Commissioner shall make grants to, and enter into contracts with, States and public or nonprofit agencies and organizations (including institutions of higher education) to pay part of the cost of projects to provide training, ^„ traineeships, and related activities, including the provision of |i technical assistance, that are designed to assist in increasing the numbers of, and upgrading the skills of, qualified personnel (especially rehabilitation counselors) who are trained in providing vocational, medical, social, and psychological rehabilitation services, who are trained to assist individuals with communication and related disorders, who are trained to provide other services provided under this Act, to individuals with disabilities, and who may include— "(A) personnel specifically trained in providing employ- ment assistance to individuals with disabilities through job development and job placement services; "(B) personnel specifically trained to identify, assess, and meet the individual rehabilitation needs of individuals with disabilities, including needs for rehabilitation technology;