Activities
Web-based reporting form
Our four-year project has designed and implemented a Web-based performance reporting system for the Assistive Technology Act state grants program. This system was designed to meet the information needs of the Assistive Technology Act grantees, the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), and Congress, and to fulfill the requirements of the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA). InfoUse, in collaboration with the Research Triangle Institute, developed the Web-based reporting system under a grant from NIDRR.
The Web-based reporting system:
- Responds to needs of state projects, NIDRR, Congress, other stakeholders
- Is user-friendly, and minimizes grantee burden
- Is designed to meet federal accessibility guidelines (W3C and Section 508)
- Is based on relevant documents & broad constituency input
Major steps in development of reporting system:
Current status
The web based reporting form was approved in 2002. The form has been implemented and is currently being used by the state grantees. The form exceeds Section 508 accessibility requirements and meets Priority III level of the W3C guidelines.
Working Group
In developing the Web-based reporting system, InfoUse and RTI worked closely with a working group of state project directors. The working group for the Web-based reporting system included:
- Ricki Cook, North Carolina Assistive Technology Project, North Carolina
- Susanne Elrod, Texas Technology Access Project, Texas
- Sue Gaskin, Arkansas Increasing Capabilities Access Network, Arkansas
- Willie Gunther, Illinois Assistive Technology Project, Illinois
- Sara Sack, Assistive Technology for Kansans Project, Kansas
- Mark Schultz, Nebraska Assistive Technology Partnership, Nebraska
- Joey Wallace, Virginia Assistive Technology System, Virginia
Development of the reporting form
In developing the Web-based reporting form, we conducted the following activities:
- InfoUse and RTI staff analyzed data needs in the AT Act of 1998, NIDRR's GPRA measures, and NIDRR's information and management needs.
- Staff reviewed a sample of 28 state files, performance reports, and grant applications. This included an analysis and written abstracts of projects' mandatory, discretionary, and other related activities. The information culled from these abstracts was used to develop data elements.
- Staff developed draft data elements.
- Staff identified and confirmed working group for reporting system.
- Staff called all state directors prior to the Project Directors' Meeting and summarized grantees questions and concerns about the Web-based reporting system.
- Staff presented to the Project Directors' Meeting in Washington, DC, August 11, 2000.
- RTI sent a draft of the form to all AT Act state project directors (October 2000).
- Staff received feedback from state projects.
- Working group reviewed comments and worked with RTI staff to revise draft form.
- NIDRR reviewed, made changes, and approved form for OMB submission.
- The system was pre-tested during the summer of 2001, and recommendations of the pre-testers were incorporated into the revised form.
- Staff developed an OMB package and supporting statement for NIDRR.
- NIDRR submitted form to OMB. OMB approved the form in February 2002.
- The web based reporting form was implemented and is currently in use.
