Staff
Tobi Rates, Executive Director
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 previously practiced law in the Washington, DC metro area and in Boulder, Colorado. Tobi and her husband are the proud parents of two children, both of whom are Autistic. Tobi has been involved with the Autism community since moving to Oregon in 2008. Having contacts in the community was invaluable to learning how to navigate the educational, medical, governmental, and community support systems available here.
Lori Ball, Programs Coordinator
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.
Rebecca Dwiggins, Events Coordinator
Rebecca Dwiggins studied Psychology with an emphasis on Child Development and Autism Spectrum Disorder at Portland State University. Prior to joining ASO, Rebecca worked for several years at The Standard in Disability Management Resources, where she developed a passion for assisting others with special needs. Rebecca is an avid animal lover.
Board of Directors
Adrian Downes, President
Adrian Downes joined the board of directors in 2018. He is the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for The Greenbrier Companies in Portland, OR. 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.
Debdeep Nath, Vice-President
Debdeep Nath is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Beaverton, OR, specializing in diagnosis, assessment, and medical management of ASD and common co-occurring physical and mental health conditions. Originally from India, Nath moved to the east coast to pursue his academic and professional training at Yale University. He enjoys exploring the beautiful outdoors of the Pacific Northwest and spending time with his wife and children. Nath joined the ASO Board of Directors in 2019.
Dan Rice, Treasurer
Dan Rice is a Managing Director at Macadam Capital Partners, a Portland, OR based investment banking firm. Dan Rice and his wife have been actively involved in the Autism community since their oldest son, Cameron, was diagnosed with Autism in 2001; navigating their way through the diagnosis, treatment and therapy, education and social opportunities, self-advocacy, adult services, and transition planning. He enjoys spending time with family and his pet Cockapoo, exploring the outdoors, attending Oregon Duck football games and coaching youth sports. Rice joined the ASO board in 2018 and resides in Lake Oswego, OR with his wife and two children.
Casey Wixson, Secretary
Bio coming soon
Natalie DaSilva
Natalie DaSilva joined the ASO Board of Directors in 2020 and has volunteered with ASO since 2018. She is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with over 30 years of professional experience, and currently coordinates care for Autistic children and their families. In her free time she hikes and explores the beautiful Pacific Northwest, and also volunteers as an Oregon Master Naturalist.
Kim Goldman
Kim Goldman joined the Autism Society of Oregon’s Board of Directors in 2018. Kim has worked in the field of Autism for over 30 years, twenty-five of them as a county Service Coordinator/Autism Specialist. She currently serves as an Assessor for Developmental Disabilities at Multnomah County. When she isn’t working or visiting her son at the University of Oregon (Go Ducks!), you may catch her with a book in her hands, exercising, cooking, or spending time with her dog.
Stephanie Gorman
Stephanie Gorman has been a provider in the autism field for over 20 years and is the founder of SocialKraft, a Portland based company that helps individuals gain an understanding of the complexities and expectations of our social world. She enjoys cooking, swimming, and going to the beach with her family and dog. She resides in Milwaukie, OR with her husband and teenage daughter. Stephanie Gorman joined the board of directors in 2017 and has been a volunteer for ASO since 2007.
Brad Hornback
Brad Hornback joined ASO as a member of the Board of Directors in 2019. Brad owns a Risk Management and Financial Services Agency in the Portland Metro area, as well is the founder of The Brad Hornback Agency Scholarship Fund. Aside from spending time with his wife and three amazing children (the youngest of which is on the spectrum), he can be often found reading, at the gym powerlifting, or watching a hockey game.
Morrigan Hunter
Morrigan Hunter joined the board of directors in 2019, but has been involved with ASO since 2017 as a volunteer for the Free Expression art workshops. Morrigan is recently completed their Masters in Social Work and is very passionate about intersectional disability justice. They are Autistic and the advocacy that they have done is shaped by their own experiences and those of the people around them. They enjoy baking, arts and crafts, nature, and 90’s era role-playing video games. Morrigan and their partner reside in Portland, OR.
Baylie Nixon
Bio coming soon
Billie Jo Parks
Bio coming soon
Advisory Board Members
Barbara Avila
Susie Brame
Joyce Bernheim
Leigh Ann Chapman
Evan Friese
Karissa Johnson
Bakulesh “Buggsi” Patel
Pamela Smith
Erika Weisensee