Mission
SOAR’s mission is to provide specialized services to neurodiverse people and their caregivers to increase our clients’ ability to advocate for themselves, connect with their peers, and manage their own lives effectively.
Our Team
Clinical Staff
Madison Robitaille, Program Director
MS, BCBA, trained SRE provider
Madison consults with supervisors, AST, and SRE staff to assist with all cases and groups. Madison also works directly with clients, parents/caregivers, and providers to collaborate and come up with creative solutions to challenges. Madison enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and doing puzzles in her free time.
Keeli Kahmoson, Supervisor
MA
Keeli assists ASTs with managing cases, planning sessions, working on goals, and running in-person groups. Keeli also collaborates with clients, parents, and SOAR staff to ensure consistency of services and help with problem solving. Keeli love hiking, cooking, reading, traveling, playing with her three dogs, and spending time with her 2 daughters. She has lived in Sonoma County for 22 years and loves all of the natural beauty of the area.
Kahlia Bashi, Supervisor
MA
Kahlia assists ASTs with managing cases, planning sessions, and working on goals. Kahlia also collaborates with clients, parents, and SOAR staff to ensure consistency of services and help with problem solving.
Chris Speed, Supervisor
MA
Chris assists ASTs with managing cases, planning sessions, and working on goals. Chris also collaborates with clients, parents, and SOAR staff to ensure consistency of services and help with problem solving. Chris enjoys playing soccer, running, walking, and listening to music.
Samantha Clarkson, Mental Health Counselor
MA, AMFT, APCC, MHRS
Sam provides individualized and person centered mental health and therapeutic services to client's individually in the community environment. Sam works directly with clients to focus on increasing self-advocacy, self-worth, empowerment, agency, awareness of self, and confidence in daily routines and daily life, as well as consulting with SOAR teams and parents/caregivers as it pertains to mental health needs of the client. In her spare time, Sam enjoys reading, collecting indoor plants, and hiking.
Alicia Clark, Mental Health Counselor
MA, LMFT, BCBA
Alicia is a person centered therapist focused on relationship and processing. She enjoys working with children, teens, and adults in helping them find their voice, understanding their agency, and living their best life. Alicia loves working with other AMFTs and being involved with the new generation of therapists. In her free time, she likes to hang out with her husband, kids, and pets. She enjoys swimming, music, reading, going to tropical places, and good food.
History of ABC
The Association of Behavior Consultants, Inc. (ABC) is a California nonprofit agency that has been providing behavior modification services to California Regional Center clients since 1979. The founder, William Palyo, MS., received his undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles and earned a master’s degree in Educational Psychology from Sonoma State University. He also achieved six special education teaching credentials. In addition to founding the company, William has served as Chief Financial Officer, Human Resources Coordinator, Clinical Program Director, and Controller for the agency since 1979. From that date, the organization has grown to 200 employees serving approximately 1000 active cases in the northern California area through a variety of programs. William Palyo passed away on December 10th, 2021. In a unanimous board decision, Devin Winter has taken over as President of the company. Devin Winter has been working as an administrator in all key departments since 2007 and became COO in 2017 and then CEO in 2021 after William’s passing. In addition to working over 15 years at ABC directly under William, Devin has a degree in Business Administration from Southern Oregon University.