About Us

For more than three decades, the Institute has provided support and resources to direct service providers in the state of Illinois, a respected voice in the Illinois disability policy arena and a leader in the national space.

Our Mission

The Institute’s mission is to promote policy and practice that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to access services and resources to pursue valued and meaningful lives.

Our Values

Experience

The Institute has spent 30 years supporting adults with intellectual & developmental disabilities.

Integrity

Nothing matters more than the needs of the community.

Collaboration

We will fix the problems that we encounter and ask for help if we can’t solve them ourselves.

Leadership Team

Kathy Carmody

CEO

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.

Kathy holds leadership roles across state and national committees working to advance the community services landscape.

Chair

UIC Institute on Disability and Human Development Advisory Committee
Life Choice Team 4, Person Centered Planning
Provider Committee of Employment Task Force
Rule 116 Functional Literacy Committee
Provider Implementation Subcommittee- Sexual Education Committee

Co-Chair

DDD Staffing Solutions Committee
Staffing Subcommittee, Ligas Oversight Committee
CQL/Mosaic/Institute Quality Measures Committee
ANCOR Alternative Payment Model Committee
ICAP Subcommittee, Ligas Oversight Committee

Rebecca Clark

COO

The Board

Mike Briggs

Little City

Board Chair

Bobbie Eastin

CCAR Industries

Board Vice Chair

Kim Zoeller

Ray Graham Asso.

Board Secretary

Amy Bliefnick

Macon Resources

Board Treasurer

Diane Farina White

CSS

Board Member

Lore Baker

AID

Board Member

Bill Dwyer

Helping Hand

Board Member

Mary Pat Ambrosino

CSCP

Board Member

Kim Cornwell

EP!C

Board Member

Joe Mengoni

UCP Seguin

Board Member

Mary Lynam-Miller

My Life My Home

Board Member

Become a member!

We'd love for you to join the Institute and bring your experitse and experience to this group.

A Message From Our Board Chair

Mike Briggs

In March 2017 when I came out of retirement and into this job as CEO admittedly unfamiliar with the landscape of the services we all provide, I sought guidance from other CEO’s as to what I should do to become better informed in doing my job. Kim Zoeller from Ray Graham was one of the first people I met, and her advice was that I had to meet Kathy Carmody and learn more about the Institute on Public Policy for People with Disabilities. Shortly after my meeting with Kim, I met with Kathy and it was clear our organization would find value from being involved with the Institute.

Fast forward over nine years, and I can say without hesitation the investment of time and modest dues has been one of the best things our organization has done over this duration. Having the opportunity to keep current on issues and policies that affect our programming is so important to our work. Yet, another value and what I admire about the members of the Institute is a willingness to share and help each other succeed in doing what some think is difficult work. Some of the best conversations and connections come when there is no agenda but rather an opportunity to talk about situations where we can learn from one another. For some meetings, this is just as valuable as the agenda content.

This year I have the privilege of serving as Chairman of the Institute Executive Committee. Clearly, I am a huge fan of the work the Institute has done and continues to do on behalf of the Service Providers the Institute represents, and more importantly the people with disabilities that we serve!

Mike Briggs

Little Friends, President & CEO