Lead by Example: Susan Rinne

WHAT SHE DOES
Rinne leads Options, an organization that supports people with disabilities by helping them enrich their lives and community. Options provides housing, education, living  and employment services to more than 300 people.

“The kinds of things we do with the people we work with allow them to get a job or be on their own in the community,” Rinne said. “You can just see people grow.”

WHY SHE LOVES HER JOB
“I love being able to do something that makes a difference all the time,” Rinne said. “It’s a lot better than counting money in a drawer or any of the other jobs I have had.”

WORKING TOGETHER
Rinne said she most enjoys working with other community groups. Options is currently in partnership with the South Central Housing Network to make affordable, disability-accessible housing more available. Rinne said many homeless people are without shelter because they have a disability or mental
illness.

“It’s great to work with people to come up with a solution, rather than just complain about a problem,” Rinne said.

WHY SHE CARES
“Disability is the number one minority in our country,” Rinne said. “One in five people report having a disability. That group of people has the worst outcome of any minority. They are more likely to be poor, to not have a job and to be unsatisfied with life.”

ON HER WATCH
Since Rinne became executive director in 1997, the number of people Options serves has doubled. The organization also expanded into two additional counties. It now serves Monroe, Lawrence and Owen counties. Rinne said it will serve six counties in the near future.

HER CURRENT CHALLENGE
Options has been significantly affected by federal cuts. Rinne said the organization has had to cut service and heavily depend on donations. Forty staff members were let go in the last two years.

WHAT KEEPS HER GOING
Although she works up to 60 hours a week, Rinne said the small successes of the organization make the effort worth it.

“Someone gets a job or moves out on their own, or anything like that,” Rinne said. “Every day, there’s something to smile about.”

SHE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT
Rinne said she couldn’t do her work without Options’ staff and board of directors.
“The people who commit to this have a passion,” Rinne said. “It’s not like they are making a lot of money. They do it because they care.”

HER REMINDER
When interacting with people with disabilities, Rinne’s advice is this: “The thing is to treat people the way you want to be treated. Ask them what their preferences are. Don’t intervene or help them out unless you’ve asked. It takes just another second to say, ‘Can I open the door for you?’”