KATS Network Advisory Council
Updated: May 13, 2025
The KATS Network Advisory Council, which consists of 14 gubernatorial appointees, along with the Coordinating Center staff helps coordinate the implementation of statewide capacity building and advocacy initiatives regarding the availability of assistive technology. These organizations, designed to work toward permanent systems change to enhance access to assistive technology for Kentuckians with disabilities, constitute the KATS Network, providing consumer-responsive, comprehensive, statewide programs of technology-related assistance for individuals with disabilities of all ages.
Purpose
To help plan, implement, and evaluate the activities of the KATS Network.
Meetings
The Advisory Council meetings are held quarterly, 4 times per year.
Minutes from the past three meetings are available at the bottom of this page. If you need a copy of the Meeting Minutes from a prior meeting, please contact us.
Next Meeting:
June 11th, 2025
10:00 am – 12:00 pm EST
Charles McDowell Center
8412 Westport Rd. Louisville, KY 40242
Virtual Option will be available
Inquiries/Register: lisa.staub@ky.gov
Meeting Materials
- Coming Soon!
Members
If you are interested in becoming an Advisory Council member, please contact the KATS Network toll-free at (800) 327-5287 or fill out and submit a KY Boards and Commissions application form.
Membership consists of representatives of designated State Agencies along with individuals with disabilities who use Assistive Technology.
Representatives of Designated Statewide Agencies
- Andre Ryssemus – KY Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
- David Allgood – Statewide Independent Living Centers
- Suhas Kulkarni- KY Workforce Investment Board
- Kevin McCormack – KY Dept. of Education
- Jessica Endler (Co-Chair) – KY Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Nicole Maher – Commonwealth Council for Developmental Disabilities
- Sarah Richardson – Alternative Financing Program
Representatives of Individuals with Disabilities who use Assistive Technology
- Samanthia Farthing – VanLear, KY
- Gerry Gordon Brown – Frankfort, KY
- Nancy Perry – Franklin, KY
- Melanie Peskoe – Louisville, KY
- Joe Cowan (Co-Chair) – Monticello, KY
- Traci Lynn Burks – Villa Hills, KY
- Brett Bachmann – Louisville, KY
Documents
Members Book
Minutes
Minutes from the previous three (3) meetings are available for download. If you are interested in minutes from meetings prior to these dates, please contact the KATS Network by emailing us at info@katsnet.org.
- KATS Council Minutes – March 6, 2023 (pdf)
- KATS Council Minutes – December 8, 2022 (pdf)
- KATS Council Minutes – September 7, 2022 (pdf)