UK's HDI CATS Helps People With Disabilities Gain Independence

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 14, 2019) — A car accident one year ago left Kacee McKee a quadriplegic. With the help of the University of Kentucky's Human Development Institute (HDI) Center for Assistive Technology Services (CATS), his life is regaining some normality.

Kacee and his mother, Mary, live in Maysville, Kentucky, but come to Lexington twice a week for physical therapy at Cardinal Hill. They started using the CATS device lending library after Cardinal Hill informed them of the center’s services.

HDI CATS is the assistive technology center serving Lexington and the surrounding region. The center offers a lending library with a variety of assistive technology devices available for checkout as well as demonstration of devices and training opportunities around assistive technology. Their mission is to ensure Kentuckians with disabilities have access to assistive technology that can improve and support independent living. 

"The center has made it easier to try out things. Not every assistive product works for every person," Kacee said.

So far Kacee has checked out switch buttons, gaming controllers, a self-leveling spoon and a ramp. 

"The HDI CATS center gives me freedom and gives Kacee independence," Mary McKee said. "We didn't even know the spoon existed until we were told to come here. The HDI CATS center has been very helpful and the staff is very nice.”

Kacee and his mom plan to continue to utilize the center to identify solutions for independence. 

For more information about HDI CATS or services provided, visit www.hdi.uky.edu/hdicats.