Sometimes a volunteer is too good to let go.

Down at the Options office we are fortunate enough to attract some great talent. Back in March, Felicia Thompson came through our front door looking for volunteer opportunities.

“I didn't even know exactly what you did,” she told me. “I just knew that you helped people.”

Felicia started working a few hours per week, doing the less than glamorous tasks that keep an organization going. We set her to things like photocopying and filing, but she quickly demonstrated that she could be depended on for much more.

“My last job was working with the elderly at Summit Elder Lodge in Moravia. I found working with the residents to be very rewarding.” Felicia said. “I've learned a lot here, and really like how Options works to help people 'age in place' so they can stay in their homes.”

This drive to help people, and the skills to match, made it imperative to give Felicia a field promotion of sorts. She has gone from being a volunteer to being our “administrative intern.”

Armed with the new title, Felicia is now charged with important responsibilities. The highest profile part of her job is organizing our annual conference (July 23 at the Auburn Holiday Inn). She has been busy designing mailers, writing letters and a thousand other tasks necessary to make this year's conference an even bigger success than last year's.

Felicia is handling these responsibilities like an old pro. She is also upgrading the office computers by installing new RAM chips, the kind of job that she hopes to do professionally some day.

“I want to open my own computer repair business some day,” Felicia said.

When she is not at the office, Felicia has even bigger things to prepare for than our annual conference. She is expecting in September.

“I'm really busy getting ready for my first child, that is what I have been doing,” Felicia said. “My free time is spent reading parenting books, taking pregnancy classes and getting her room ready.”

When prodded enough, she confesses that there is more to her life than Options and impending parenthood. She is an avid reader of contemporary fiction and enjoys a wide variety of music: everything from Jewel to Rascal Flats.

Ever the modest one, Felicia keeps returning to her passion for her work.

“I think it is awesome that more than half the board members at Options are people with disabilities,” Felicia said. “It's great that they are a strong voice in the organization. I'm excited to be a part of all of this.”

And we're excited to have her.

Parking Education

Options for Independence is administering Cayuga County's “Handicap Parking Education Program.”

The program, which is funded by fines paid by people ticketed for illegally parking in spaces reserved for people with disabilities, is designed to raise awareness regarding the parking laws.

Be on the look out for our ads in the Doubledays programs as well as on the radio and other publications. And remember: Designated accessible parking spaces are only for people with the proper permit or license plates. If you forget, your fine will be used to remind others of the law.

Collin M. Sullivan is the ADA/access advocate for Options for Independence.