Spotlight: Susan Klingel
By Katie Holt
For more than three decades, Susan Klingel, the executive director at The Arc Madison County Inc., has devoted her life to making a difference in the lives of thousands of individuals in North Alabama.
In the late 1950s, the Arc of Madison County was founded by a group of parents seeking assistance and guidance for their children with disabilities. Today, the organization champions advocacy, acceptance, and inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental support needs.
During her time with the Arc, Klingel has watched the organization she champions shift to prioritize more services that empower individuals to live, work, and engage alongside their broader community.
“I’ve seen the program evolve a lot throughout these years. Changes in different types of services for people with disabilities, moving more from segregated types of services to more community-based sources,” Klingel said.
The Arc offers an extensive list of resources for all levels of interaction, ranging from guided employment, residential services, early intervention, a pediatric outpatient center, an autism clinic, and more.
Klingel reflected on how people outside the field sometimes view her career through a lens of sadness, not realizing the joy and progress she witnesses every day in the people she helps.
“A lot of people talk about, oh, that’s such a sad career. It’s really not, because for the people we serve, the small accomplishments are major accomplishments,” Klingel said.
She continued, “We think about their abilities and how we can focus on them and help that person to become as independent as possible.”
Klingel said her perspective on the work was shaped early in her career by someone who left a lasting imprint on her life. “The most impactful person in my career was my first boss in Georgia. She had adopted several children with disabilities, and she came at it as a parent, making me understand that this isn’t just a job, it’s a whole lot more than that,” she shared.
When asked what Madison County’s response has been to Arc’s programs and supporting individuals with disabilities, Klingel said the Huntsville area has been incredibly welcoming and encouraging.
“From nonprofits to elected officials to local companies, we have an extremely supportive community. I’m very fortunate to be in an area where we can provide those opportunities for the people that we serve, because of that,” she said.
The Arc is currently working on some exciting projects, including expanding its autism diagnostic services and a credentialing program. The credentialing program will help individuals with disabilities obtain certifications to work in fields such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning or manufacturing.
Klingel also gave high praise to her staff, noting how they have been crucial to the organization’s success, including helping them win the ARC of the United States Innovation Award for their autism services.
“I have amazing staff, willing to take risks and be innovative to provide new and different services,” Klingel said.
Klingel’s passion shone as she spoke about how much she loved her job. She said that as long as she can bring hope and support to the individuals her organization serves, she wants to continue in her role, “As long as I’m able to make a difference, I want to keep doing what I’m doing.”
