Meet ASO’s Staff:
Tobi Rates, Executive Director (she/her)
Tobi Rates has been the Executive Director of the Autism Society of Oregon since October 2011. Prior to becoming Executive Director, she served on the Board of Directors for ASO as a volunteer. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and her law degree from the University of Colorado – Boulder. Tobi and her husband are the proud parents of two young adults, both of whom are Autistic. Tragically, her younger son passed away from epilepsy (a fairly common co-occurring disorder with Autism) in 2023 at the age of 18. Tobi has been involved with the Autism community since moving to Oregon in 2008. Helping people navigate the educational, medical, governmental, and community support systems in Oregon and making these systems work for the people they are supposed to serve are important goals.
Lori Ball, Programs Director (she/her)
Lori Ball is a wife, mother of three children, and small business owner. Before coming to ASO, she successfully ran a small business for over 20 years. Her youngest son experiences Autism. After years of battling doctors for a diagnosis, Lori wanted to do more to help other families. She took an internship at OHSU in their LEND Program where she was able to collaborate with various professionals who work with families and individuals seeking resources, diagnosis, and treatment/therapies for a variety neurological concerns. She helped bring a family’s perspective to the table. It was at OHSU where her awareness grew beyond the interest of her own family. At OHSU she gained experience, working with families and individuals who experience neurodiversity. She uses her experience and resources at ASO to help families with children and individuals who have a personal knowledge of autism.
Rosa Barquia, Administrative Assistant (they/them)
Rosa Barquia was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. They’ve worked in office administration, childcare, and construction. They value curiosity and joy. In their free time, they enjoy gardening, reading, and spending time outdoors.
Tess Hudson, Former Events Director (they/them)
Tess Hudson recently left ASO to become Executive Director of The Connection Club, a new nonprofit organization with the mission of creating inclusive spaces where people of all abilities are empowered to learn, connect, and grow through meaningful experiences rooted in respect, dignity, and opportunity. They continue to collaborate closely with ASO in creating inclusive events.
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Meet ASO’s Board Members & Officers:
Adrian Downes, President (he/him)
Video: Meet Adrian
Adrian Downes joined the board of directors in 2018. Downes is currently a consultant working on high value projects and was formerly CFO for The Greenbrier Companies and Knowledge Universe. Being a father to an Autistic adult son, he brings his unique perspective and dedication to the board. He enjoys horseback riding and equestrian jumping competitions, hiking, cycling, listening to music and watching movies. Downes resides in Tualatin, OR with his wife and two children.
Shawn Sullivan, Vice President (he/him)
Video: Meet Shawn
Shawn Sullivan is an award-winning author and disability advocate. He was diagnosed with Autism at age 37, after navigating the extremely difficult pathway to diagnosis as an adult. Shawn works as a Training and Development Specialist with the Oregon Eligibility Program where he prides himself in representing Autism to new state employees. He has had a divergent career path ranging from managing technology infrastructure, to creating a jobs program for adults, to stints as a radio host, communication manager, and Public Information Officer. Shawn is biracial, with Native American heritage, as well as a US Army veteran who also experiences physical disabilities related to his service. He has earned a BA in Writing, with honors, and a Master of Public Administration. Shawn brings a unique lens to any conversation about disability rights and employment.
Lisa Murphy, Secretary (she/her)
Video: Meet Lisa
Lisa Murphy, a native Oregonian, joined the ASO Board of Directors in 2023. She is the mother of two adult sons, one of which experiences autism. After her second son was born, Lisa had the privilege of being a stay at home parent. She devoted herself to advocacy and inclusion for her son, while also volunteering in a wide range of school related roles from auctions to Little League. Now, after more than two decades of navigating everything from diagnosis to adult services, she would like to work with and meet people in the autism community and see how she can use her experiences to help others. Lisa enjoys spending time with family and friends, paddle boarding, hiking and travel and occasionally binge watching of her favorite shows.
Jim Lang, Treasurer (he/him)
Video: Meet Jim
Born in Wyoming, Jim moved to Denver, Colorado right out of high school and started working in the construction business. In 1988, Jim moved with the company to Seattle Washington. He met his wife, Julie, and then moved again with the company in 1995 to Portland, Oregon. Jim and Julie had two children, Crystal and Luke. At the age of 2, Luke was diagnosed with Autism. In 2005, Jim bought the company. He spent the next 18 years growing the company and helping his wife raise the children. In 2023, Jim sold his company and retired. He’s now spending time with his family, golfing, riding horses, woodworking, and building hot rods.
Marie McMahon, Psy.D. (she/her)
Video: Meet Marie
Dr. McMahon is a licensed psychologist in Oregon and Washington serving children and families experiencing disability. Her dedication to disability, Special Education, and neurodiversity was shaped as the older sibling of an individual who is blind. She has rich clinical experiences including more than 25 years specializing in the Autism Spectrum. Dr. McMahon had a private practice for more than a decade focused on social skills development and behavioral health for children with autism, nonverbal learning disabilities, anxiety, and ADHD. She has spent the past decade within healthcare systems providing developmental evaluations and supports for children and their families.
Aubrey LeVeque, Chair: Community Outreach Committee (she/her)
Video: Meet Aubrey
Bio coming soon
L. Priscilla Jaimes, Chair: Fundraising Committee (she/her)
Video: Meet Priscilla
Bio coming soon
jorja harper t schall (its/her)
Video: Coming soon
jorja has a BA in International Relations from the University of Arkansas. She plans to pursue a Masters in Public Policy from Yale University, and then advocate for disabled people. jorja experiences schizophrenia and autism. She is nonspeaking and uses AAC to communicate. Living in a group home, she is keen on securing diverse housing options for people experiencing disabilities. In her free time, jorja pursues the arts and can be found adventuring throughout Portland.
Richard Allen (he/him)
Richard Allen joined the ASO Board of Directors in 2026. He lives in Southern Oregon, where he is an HR Systems & People Analytics Leader at 1-800-Flowers.com, where he focuses on HR systems, people analytics, data integrity, and improving employee experience. Richard is a late-diagnosed Autistic advocate who understands how powerful it is to find community, learn from others, and feel supported. His professional work centers on building systems that are clear, consistent, and accessible, and he brings that same mindset to advancing equity and inclusion. He serves on the United Way of Jackson County Belonging Council, is the Rogue Valley SHRM Director, and leads the LGBTQ+ & Allies Employee Resource Group at 1-800-Flowers.com. Richard is excited to connect with the Autism community across Oregon and use both lived experience and systems-focused leadership to help strengthen services, awareness, and access for Autistic people and their families.
Amber Perry (she/her)
Saratessa Palos (she/her)
Saratessa Palos is the mother of two sons, one of whom is Autistic. Her lived experience navigating education and support systems informs her commitment to inclusion, educational justice, and community partnership. She is a lifelong learner with over a decade of experience in educational and clinical settings. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Child Development, master’s degrees in Special Education and Psychology, and advanced training in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). She is currently pursuing a PhD in Special Education at the University of Oregon focused on the development of social-emotional competence (SEC) in early childhood. Saratessa understands firsthand the importance of access, advocacy, and belonging for individuals with Autism and their families.
Amy Ventura (she/her)
Amy is the mother to two boys, a wife, and a full-time healthcare business professional. She has a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management and various certifications in process improvement, project management, and patient care experience, and enjoys volunteering in and around her community. Her oldest son was born in 2018 and after difficulties in preschool including expulsion, he was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 4. Not knowing anything about Autism, Autism resources, or the Autism community, she gained confidence and found her voice through research and experience and has now become a strong advocate for the support needs of Autistic individuals and all variations of neurodivergence. In her free time, Amy enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends, and when alone will likely be found reading or playing Legend of Zelda.
ASO’s Advisory Board Members:
Barbara Avila (she/her)
Joyce Bernheim (she/her)
Dr. Leigh Ann Chapman (she/her)
Karissa Johnson (she/her)
Bakulesh “Buggsi” Patel (he/him)
Pamela Smith (she/her)
Erika Weisensee (she/her)