Kathy Carmody is the CEO of the Institute on Public Policy for People with Disabilities; a statewide association whose members provide direct services and support to over 35,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities 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 played a dynamic role in shaping and impacting IDD policy issues in Illinois as CEO of the Institute and nationally as a member of the ANCOR Board of Directors.

Kathy began her career as a DSP at an Arc affiliate in Michigan and has worked in the Illinois and national I/DD arena since 1983. Kathy’s experience includes leading research, demonstration and training projects which 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 several statewide committees and Task Forces.  Kathy played a key role in the Taylor Institute studies which laid the groundwork for the development of the Illinois HCBS system. She led the SPICE project in the late 1980’s which served as the pilot for today’s CILA model. 

Kathy 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. She has received recognition for her leadership and advocacy from CTF Illinois and was the inaugural recipient of the Champion of Advocacy award from UCP Seguin in 2024.  Kathy received her master’s degree in social service administration from the University of Chicago and is a graduate of the Leadership Institute at the University of Delaware.