Kentucky Award Recognized Innovative Disability Career Program
The state honored a program that builds career paths for high school students receiving special education services.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Special Education
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The Kentucky Board of Education presented the 2026 Kelly Award to Cate Gaddis for her leadership in the ASCEND program. This initiative creates career exploration and job shadowing opportunities for students receiving special education services in partnership with local schools.
Why it matters
The Kelly Award recognizes business and education partnerships that meaningfully improve student outcomes. By bridging the gap between classrooms and professional work environments, the ASCEND model provides high schoolers with essential real-world skills and future career paths.
Fourteen students completed the program orientation in December 2025, supported by nine local community businesses. The award, presented on October 8, 2026, honors the legacy of Joseph W. Kelly.
The players
Cate Gaddis
The vice president of operations at RiverValley Behavioral Health who manages the ASCEND program.
Kentucky Board of Education
The state agency responsible for overseeing public education and recognizing exemplary school-community partnerships.
The details
The ASCEND program operates by coordinating job placements across multiple departments at RiverValley Behavioral Health. To ensure success, the organization established an in-house mentor program that trains employees on how to effectively support and work with people with disabilities in a professional setting.
Timeline
September 2025: Fourteen students began the initial program orientation.
December 2025: All fourteen students graduated from the orientation.
October 8, 2026: Cate Gaddis was presented with the Kelly Award.
The Home Front
The Kelly Award highlights the growing trend of integrating career-readiness training directly into special education curricula. This approach represents a shift from traditional classroom-only models toward community-integrated vocational development for students.
Parents of students receiving special education services should contact their local district to inquire about existing vocational partnerships or job shadow programs. Tracking whether your local school district facilitates these community-based transitions can help you advocate for career support.
The takeaway
This award underscores the success of local partnerships in building career pathways for students with disabilities. Parents should discuss similar vocational opportunities with their school counselors or case managers to identify available career-exploration programs.
Further reading
For more information on state resources for students, visit Special Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kentucky Teacher.
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