New Appalachian Center for Assistive Technology expands services in Eastern Kentucky
MOREHEAD, Ky. (June 25, 2026) — A new center in Morehead is helping Kentuckians live more independently through assistive technology, equipment and training.
The University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences and UK St. Claire have partnered to open a second location for the Appalachian Center for Assistive Technology (ACAT), located at 336 Pinecrest Drive. Community leaders, elected officials, University of Kentucky representatives, partners and staff celebrated the opening of the new center June 25 in a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
ACAT helps individuals overcome challenges related to mobility, communication and daily living. Services include assistive technology demonstrations and consultations, a short-term assistive technology loan program, maker space services, workforce training opportunities and equipment refurbishing.
“By bringing these services to Morehead, we are connecting individuals and families with the support they need closer to home,” said Donald H. Lloyd II, president and CEO of UK St. Claire. “This center is another example of our commitment to advancing health, improving quality of life and strengthening the communities we serve.”
The first ACAT facility opened in Hazard in 2022. The new Morehead location builds on the center’s work in Hazard and allows more families to receive services.
Through assistive technology, ACAT can help people overcome everyday challenges — from helping a child participate more fully in school to supporting an adult recovering from an injury or enabling an older adult to remain independent at home.
“This expansion strengthens our ability to meet the needs of more people across the region,” said Patrick Kitzman, Ph.D., director of ACAT and professor in the UK College of Health Sciences. “Together, we are creating new opportunities for collaboration, service and learning.”
“Expanding these services through the opening of a second site is critically important for the people of Eastern Kentucky,” said Karen Badger, Ph.D., vice dean and professor in the UK College of Health Sciences. “This new site complements the services provided by the existing location in Hazard and extends our reach to support more individuals and families across the region.”
Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, guests toured the facility and viewed demonstrations showing how assistive technology can help people live more independently.
UK HealthCare is the hospitals and clinics of the University of Kentucky. But it is so much more. It is more than 10,000 dedicated healthcare professionals committed to providing advanced subspecialty care for the most critically injured and ill patients from the Commonwealth and beyond. It also is the home of the state’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that cares for the tiniest and sickest newborns and the region’s only Level 1 trauma center.
As an academic research institution, we are continuously pursuing the next generation of cures, treatments, protocols and policies. Our discoveries have the potential to change what’s medically possible within our lifetimes. Our educators and thought leaders are transforming the healthcare landscape as our six health professions colleges teach the next generation of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals, spreading the highest standards of care. UK HealthCare is the power of advanced medicine committed to creating a healthier Kentucky, now and for generations to come.