29 U.S. Code § 3002 - Definitions

In this chapter:

(1) Adult service program

The term “adult service program” means a program that provides services to, or is otherwise substantially involved with the major life functions of, individuals with disabilities. Such term includes—

(A) a program providing residential, supportive, or employment-related services, to individuals with disabilities;

(B) a program carried out by a center for independent living, such as a center described in part C of title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 796f et seq.);

(C) a program carried out by an employment support agency connected to adult vocational rehabilitation, such as a one-stop partner, as defined in section 3102 of this title; and

(D) a program carried out by another organization or vender licensed or registered by the designated State agency, as defined in section 7 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 705).

(2) American Indian consortium

The term “American Indian consortium” means an entity that is an American Indian Consortium (as defined in section 102 of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15002)), and that is established to provide protection and advocacy services for purposes of receiving funding under subtitle C of title I of such Act (42 U.S.C. 15041 et seq.).

(3) Assistive technology

The term “assistive technology” means technology designed to be utilized in an assistive technology device or assistive technology service.

(4) Assistive technology device

The term “assistive technology device” means any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.

(5) Assistive technology service

The term “assistive technology service” means any service that directly assists an individual with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device. Such term includes—

(A) the evaluation of the assistive technology needs of an individual with a disability, including a functional evaluation of the impact of the provision of appropriate assistive technology devices and services to the individual in the customary environment of the individual;

(B) a service consisting of purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing for the acquisition of assistive technology devices by individuals with disabilities;

(C) a service consisting of selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing, replacing, or donating assistive technology devices;

(D) coordination and use of necessary therapies, interventions, or services with assistive technology devices, such as therapies, interventions, or services associated with education and rehabilitation plans and programs;

(E) instruction or technical assistance for an individual with a disability or, where appropriate, the family members, guardians, advocates, or authorized representatives of such an individual;

(F) instruction or technical assistance for professionals (including individuals providing education and rehabilitation services and entities that manufacture or sell assistive technology devices), employers, providers of employment and training services, or other individuals who provide services to, employ, or are otherwise substantially involved in the major life functions of individuals with disabilities; and

(G) a service consisting of expanding the availability of access to technology, including electronic and information technology, to individuals with disabilities.

(6) Capacity building and advocacy activities

The term “capacity building and advocacy activities” means efforts that—

(A) result in laws, regulations, policies, practices, procedures, or organizational structures that promote consumer-responsive programs or entities; and

(B) facilitate and increase access to, provision of, and funding for assistive technology devices and assistive technology services, in order to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve greater independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion within the community and the workforce.

(7) Comprehensive statewide program of technology-related assistance

The term “comprehensive statewide program of technology-related assistance” means a consumer-responsive program of technology-related assistance for individuals with disabilities that—

(A) is implemented by a State;

(B) is equally available to all individuals with disabilities residing in the State, regardless of their type of disability, age, income level, or location of residence in the State, or the type of assistive technology device or assistive technology service required; and

(C) incorporates all the activities described in section 3003(e) of this title (unless excluded pursuant to section 3003(e)(5) of this title).

(8) Consumer-responsive

The term “consumer-responsive”—

(A) with regard to policies, means that the policies are consistent with the principles of—

(i) respect for individual dignity, personal responsibility, self-determination, and pursuit of meaningful careers, based on informed choice, of individuals with disabilities;

(ii) respect for the privacy, rights, and equal access (including the use of accessible formats) of such individuals;

(iii) inclusion, integration, and full participation of such individuals in society;

(iv) support for the involvement in decisions of a family member, a guardian, an advocate, or an authorized representative, if an individual with a disability requests, desires, or needs such involvement; and

(v) support for individual and systems advocacy and community involvement; and

(B) with respect to an entity, program, or activity, means that the entity, program, or activity—

(i) is easily accessible to, and usable by, individuals with disabilities and, when appropriate, their family members, guardians, advocates, or authorized representatives;

(ii) responds to the needs of individuals with disabilities in a timely and appropriate manner; and

(iii) facilitates the full and meaningful participation of individuals with disabilities and their family members, guardians, advocates, and authorized representatives, in—

(I) decisions relating to the provision of assistive technology devices and assistive technology services to such individuals; and

(II) decisions related to the maintenance, improvement, and evaluation of the comprehensive statewide program of technology-related assistance, including decisions that affect capacity building and advocacy activities.

(9) Disability

The term “disability” has the meaning given the term under section 12102 of title 42.

(10) Individual with a disability

The term “individual with a disability” means any individual—

(A) who has a disability; and

(B) who is or would be enabled by an assistive technology device or an assistive technology service to minimize deterioration in functioning, to maintain a level of functioning, or to achieve a greater level of functioning in any major life activity.

(11) Institution of higher education

The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given such term in section 1001(a) of title 20, and includes a community college receiving funding under the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).

(12) Protection and advocacy services

The term “protection and advocacy services” means services that—

(A) are described in subtitle C of title I of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15041 et seq.), the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Act (42 U.S.C. 10801 et seq.), or section 509 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794e); and

(B) assist individuals with disabilities with respect to assistive technology devices and assistive technology services.

(13) Secretary

The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Administration for Community Living.

(14) State

(A) In general

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term “State” means each of the 50 States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

(B) Outlying areas

In section 3003(b) of this title:

(i) Outlying area

The term “outlying area” means the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

(ii) State

The term “State” does not include the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

(15) State assistive technology program

The term “State assistive technology program” means a program authorized under section 3003 of this title.

(16) Targeted individuals and entities

The term “targeted individuals and entities” means—

(A) individuals with disabilities and their family members, guardians, advocates, and authorized representatives;

(B) underrepresented populations;

(C) individuals who work for public or private entities (including centers for independent living described in part C of title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 796f et seq.), insurers, or managed care providers) that have contact with, or provide services to, individuals with disabilities;

(D) educators and related services personnel, including personnel in elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools, and in vocational and early intervention programs;

(E) technology experts (including web designers and procurement officials);

(F) health, allied health, and rehabilitation professionals, and employees of hospitals, skilled nursing, intermediate care, and assisted living facilities (including discharge planners);

(G) employers, especially small business employers, and providers of employment and training services;

(H) entities that manufacture or sell assistive technology devices;

(I) entities that carry out community programs designed to develop essential community services in rural and urban areas; and

(J) other appropriate individuals and entities, including public and private entities involved in housing and transportation, as determined for a State by the State.

(17) Underrepresented population

The term “underrepresented population” means a population that is typically underrepresented in service provision, and includes populations such as individuals who have low-incidence disabilities, racial and ethnic minorities, low income individuals, homeless individuals (including children and youth), children in foster care, individuals with limited English proficiency, individuals living in institutions seeking to transition to the community from institutional settings, youth with disabilities aging into adulthood, older individuals, or individuals living in rural areas.

(18) Universal design

The term “universal design” means a concept or philosophy for designing and delivering products and services that are usable by people with the widest possible range of functional capabilities, which include products and services that are directly accessible (without requiring assistive technologies) and products and services that are interoperable with assistive technologies.

(Pub. L. 105–394, § 3, Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3631; Pub. L. 106–402, title IV, § 401(b)(4)(A), Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1738; Pub. L. 108–364, § 2, Oct. 25, 2004, 118 Stat. 1709; Pub. L. 110–315, title IX, § 941(k)(2)(K), Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3467; Pub. L. 113–128, title IV, § 491(o)(1), title V, § 512(b)(1), July 22, 2014, 128 Stat. 1698, 1705; Pub. L. 117–263, div. E, title LIV, § 5402, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3261.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, referred to in pars. (1)(B) and (16)(C), is Pub. L. 93–112, Sept. 26, 1973, 87 Stat. 355. Part C of title VII of the Act probably should have been a reference to part C of chapter 1 of title VII of the Act, which is classified generally to subpart 3 (§ 796f et seq.) of part A of subchapter VII of chapter 16 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 701 of this title and Tables.

The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000, referred to in pars. (2) and (12)(A), is Pub. L. 106–402, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1677. Subtitle C of title I of the Act is classified generally to part C (§ 15041 et seq.) of subchapter I of chapter 144 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 15001 of Title 42 and Tables.

The Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978, referred to in par. (11), is Pub. L. 95–471, Oct. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1325, which is classified principally to chapter 20 (§ 1801 et seq.) of Title 25, Indians. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1801 of Title 25 and Tables.

The Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Act, referred to in par. (12)(A), is Pub. L. 99–319, May 23, 1986, 100 Stat. 478, which is classified generally to chapter 114 (§ 10801 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 10801 of Title 42 and Tables.

Amendments

2022—Pub. L. 117–263 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section defined terms for this chapter.

2014—Par. (1)(C). Pub. L. 113–128, § 512(b)(1), substituted “such as a one-stop partner, as defined in section 3102 of this title” for “such as a one-stop partner, as defined in section 2801 of this title”.

Par. (13). Pub. L. 113–128, § 491(o)(1), substituted “Health and Human Services” for “Education”.

2008—Par. (11). Pub. L. 110–315 substituted “the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978” for “the Tribally Controlled College or University Assistance Act of 1978”.

2004—Pub. L. 108–364 amended section catchline and text generally. Prior to amendment, text consisted of subsecs. (a) and (b) relating to definitions and references.

2000—Subsec. (a)(11)(A). Pub. L. 106–402 substituted “subtitle C of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000” for “part C of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (42 U.S.C. 6041 et seq.)”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2022 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 117–263 effective on the day that is 6 months after Dec. 23, 2022, see section 5403 of Pub. L. 117–263, set out as a note under section 3001 of this title.

Effective Date of 2014 Amendment

Amendment by section 512(b)(1) of Pub. L. 113–128 effective on the first day of the first full program year after July 22, 2014 (July 1, 2015), see section 506 of Pub. L. 113–128, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3101 of this title.