Appalachian Center for Assistive Technology-ACAT

04/08/2026

Our CARAT-TOP students had an incredibly busy and rewarding day in Corbin, KY!

They had the honor of presenting at the annual Appalachian Research Day, hosted by the UK Center of Excellence in Rural Health. Not only that, but these outstanding students were also nominated for a Community Engagement Award and recognized for this achievement!

We’re also proud to share that our ACAT/CARAT-Top intern presented a poster during the poster session, showcasing their hard work and dedication.

We are extremely proud of all of these students and grateful for the way they represented their work and shared their knowledge with conference attendees. Keep up the amazing work!

04/02/2026

Today, the ACAT team proudly stands together in support of World Autism Awareness Day 💙

While we support autism all year long, today holds a special place as we raise awareness, promote understanding, and embrace the uniqueness of every individual on the spectrum.

Together, we continue to build a more inclusive and compassionate world.

03/26/2026

Today, the Perry Central Pre-Ets students visited the Disability Resource Center. During their visit, the students participated in an activity focused on listening to instructions and strengthening their fine motor skills. It's amazing to see how something as simple as painting a picture can encourage focus, creativity, and confidence.

03/21/2026

03/18/2026

ACAT/CARAT & KHP Poster at the 2026 KPHA conference. Michaela Amburgey is representing KHP and Keisha Wells is representing ACAT for this collaboration.

03/16/2026

Today, the CARAT-TOP students met at City Hall with local officials from Hazard and Perry County. During the meeting, students discussed the pros and cons of potential sites for a sensory park and shared the questions they developed as part of their needs assessment. The group also discussed where the needs assessment would be distributed and which members of the community would be asked to participate.

03/13/2026

We would like to wish our very own, ACAT Intern, Aubrey Cornett, the best of luck as she travels to state, for high school speech team!

03/12/2026

Today, ACAT continued its Read Across America activities with students from Mountain View Elementary School in Leslie County, Kentucky. Several Leslie County High School students from our Pre-ETS program joined us to assist with the day’s activities.

The high school students demonstrated excellent communication skills not only with each other but also with the younger students. They showed patience, kindness, understanding, and a strong willingness to help. Their positive interactions served as a wonderful example of leadership and mentorship for the younger generation.

03/09/2026

Today, the CARAT-TOP students continued working on their sensory park program by visiting three possible locations where the park might be built. While at each site, students worked in their groups to observe the area and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each location. They considered factors such as space, accessibility, safety, and how well the environment would support sensory-friendly features. The students shared their thoughts with their group members and compared ideas about which location might work best for the project. This activity helped students practice teamwork, communication, and critical thinking as they evaluated real-world options for the sensory park.

03/05/2026

Thank you to West Perry Elementary 3rd grade classes and staff, for allowing us to participate in Read Across America Week! This year the theme is Diverse Readers. We read Dr. Seuss’ 1 2 3 book and then students had an opportunity to participate in an activity to learn how to adapt books for diverse readers. A special thank you to two of our very own PCC students that participated with us, and their chaperones for gwtting them there!

02/24/2026

Our ACAT Manager, Keisha Wells, is kicking the week off in Atlanta at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Network Grantee Meeting!
This program meeting is packed with educational sessions and peer networking opportunities. We’re excited for the insights, collaboration, and innovation that will come from bringing leaders together to strengthen our work and expand our impact.

02/19/2026

Today, one of our Pre-Ed students from Perry Central High School had the opportunity to visit Hazard ARH for a job shadowing experience. She was able to observe daily routines and even participate in tasks such as cleaning equipment, organizing supplies, and ensuring materials were returned to their proper places.

She gained valuable insight into the profession by asking thoughtful questions, staying attentive, and fully engaging in the experience. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the OT and PT departments,especially Rachael, at Hazard ARH for providing this wonderful learning opportunity and allowing our student to explore this career firsthand.