Kathy Carmody

Kathy Carmody is the CEO of the Institute on Public Policy for People with Disabilities, Illinois’ largest statewide association focused exclusively on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the community agencies that support them. Institute member organizations provide direct services and support to over 35,000 people with IDD and Autism across Illinois. At the Institute, Kathy is involved in a wide array of policy and practice issues affecting people with I/DD and serves on and leads multiple committees and task forces impacting the I/DD service system. Kathy has worked in the IDD landscape for over 4 decades, starting her career as a DSP in the early 1980s. Kathy’s experience includes leading research, demonstration, and training projects that substantially improved the nature and quality of services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as direct support, clinical, and executive management roles within community agencies. As CEO of the Institute on Public Policy for People with Disabilities, Kathy is involved in policy issues affecting people with I/DD and serves on a number of statewide committees and Task Forces, including chairing the Life Choices Team 4, charged with designing the person-centered planning process that will be adopted in Illinois. At theKathy is the proud recipient of the ANCOR 2022 Diane McComb State Association Star Award for leadership in transforming the delivery of IDD services and was elected to the ANCOR national board of directors in 2023.