The new year brings two new faces to Options for Independence. These two new advocates joined the Options team with enthusiasm, dedication and compassion for the disability community.

• Joining Options as the new access advocate is Collin Sullivan, an Auburn native who is dedicated to giving back to a community that has been so good to him. Sullivan is a product of the Auburn school system and a graduate of Cayuga Community College as well as Syracuse University where he earned a B.A. in history and economics. His path to Options has meandered across our community; working in the school system, the Cayuga Museum, The Citizen and most recently for Sen. David Valesky.

Sullivan feels lucky enough to have been able to stay in his hometown and live here with his wife of six years, Laura, and their 2-year-old daughter, Jane.

When he's not working, Sullivan enjoys being part of Auburn's rich theater scene. He has been involved in the Auburn Players for 15 years, primarily as an actor. As a local history buff, he also gives tours of Fort Hill Cemetery for community groups.

• Options also welcomes Brooke Zaso to the Options team as our new medicaid service coordinator. Originally from Phelps, Zaso now lives in Cayuga with her fiance and dog, Ziggy.

Prior to Options, Zaso taught for two years at the Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency's Head Start Program. She has a bachelor's degree in early childhood education and program administration from Cazenovia College.

In her free time, Zaso enjoys being outside gardening, kayaking down the lake and taking hikes in the woods with her dog.

In addition, Zaso is enjoying all the preparation and planning for her upcoming wedding in August.

She says she has met some wonderful people at Options and can't wait to meet many more. She is excited to learn more about our organization and consumers.

Options for Independence is proud to have both Sullivan and Zaso advocating for the rights of the disabled community.

Please stop by and meet our new staff when you are in Auburn. Sullivan and Zaso (along with the rest of the Options staff) can be reached at 255-3447.

Quote of the day:

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.”

- Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Amanda Derby is the housing advocate at Options for Independence, located at 75 Genesee St., Auburn.