Meet Our Coaches

MARA McLOUGHLIN, MS, CCC-SLP

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

With over 14 years professional experience working with autistic and other neurodivergent people and their families from age 6 month–23 years, and her over 25 years as a student and teacher of yoga and mindfulness, Coach Mara knows that learning more of these skills can help build a better world.

A self-diagnosed autistic human and certified provider of the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®), Mara holds both her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Communication Science. She knows that communication is the key to life. Mara was appointed to the Oregon Commission for Autism by former Governor Kate Brown, serves on the Strategies and Supports subcommittee, and looks forward to working with the state legislature to make significant change in services for autistic people and their families across the lifespan.

Tommy Murphy, MA, CCC-SLP

Coach Tommy has over 15 years of history working with people with disabilities. He graduated in 2010 from Portland State University with his Masters in Speech and Hearing Sciences. Since then, Tommy has been employed in the Reynolds School District, serving as the Speech Language Pathologist of Reynolds High School.

Over the years, he has moved from providing small group therapy to whole class instruction for neurodivergent learners. His class focuses on the executive functioning and social skills students need to finish school, make friends, and gain employment. Tommy has a strong focus on helping students gain independence, while celebrating the wonderful differences that come from a diverse and unique background. In his free time, Tommy enjoys being outdoors, hula-hooping, and spinning fire.

Kristen Math, MA, MS

Coach Kris has her master's degree in counseling and a MS in molecular science. She wrote her thesis on the neuropsychological assessment of autistic children. With 5 years of experience teaching social skills to children, adolescents, and young adults on the autism spectrum, she is passionate about the importance of helping individuals overcome social difficulties so that they can have more fulfilling friendships and relationships.

Kris is excited about the opportunity to work as a coach to help adolescents and adults with their social skills. She is particularly excited that parents and caregivers are involved in the program, as support is so important to success.  

In her spare time, Kris enjoys writing and ballet dancing. She is the mother of five children, including an autistic teen and an autistic adult, and is passionate about advocating on behalf of neurodivergent people.

Corinna Megedyuk, DSP, BA, C-SLPA

Coach Corinna graduated from Portland State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences, along with a minor in Spanish, and is credentialed as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) and Speech Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA).

Coach Corinna works with people who have developmental disabilities as a DSP. Prior to that, she was an assistant preschool teacher and has worked with young children for over 7 years.

In addition to her experience with early childhood education, she also runs a children's ministry at her local church. In her spare time, she likes to play the piano, spend quality time with close friends and family and cook/ bake yummy foods.

Coach Corinna is fluent in English, Russian and Spanish and loves learning about other cultures.

Sebastian Rubino, DSP

Coach Sebastian is a journalist and autistic self-advocate who grew up in upstate New York and has lived in Washington state since the end of 2020. They got their bachelor's degree in journalism from SUNY New Paltz, and after three years of persistence, they secured his first full-time journalist position in 2021.

After facing many years of discrimination for being autistic, they found the neurodiversity movement, which empowered them to embrace their autistic self. As a result, they found themself inspired to make the world a better place for the autistic community. Their special interests are music, animals, video games, writing, and of course, autistic rights activism.

Sebastian now serves as one of IRL’s coaches, with the hopes of providing students with tools they wish they had growing up. They model how to be authentic, showing people they do not have to change who they are to live a happy life.

Josh Negrini, BSW, LMT

Coach Josh is very passionate about personal empowerment and seeing others live a full and fruitful life that they choose for themselves. He has worked within the Intellectual and Developmental Disability field for more than 20 years. He has worked in roles varying from a Direct Support Professional, Foster Care administrator, Long term Care, Community Access and Day Program Director, Quality Enhancement oversight specialist and as a Medicaid Policy Analyst for the State of Colorado to name a few.

Josh also runs a successful Massage practice in Portland and a Children's publishing company as a passion project. He lives with his puppy Jackson that keeps him busy and may try to make a guest appearance on a call if given the chance.

Madeline Holte, MOT/OTR, L

Coach Madeline is an occupational therapist with a background working with infants, children, and adolescents in school and early intervention settings. She has also volunteered at Camp Kiwanis and the Autism Society of Oregon game club.

From personal observation, Madeline understands the challenges of navigating social relationships. She is excited about the opportunity to be a social skills coach and help individuals thrive in a socially complicated world.

In her free time, she enjoys trying out new recipes for yummy foods, sewing, and spending time with her husband and friends.

Savannah Leitner, BA Enrollment Coordinator

Coach Savannah graduated from Pepperdine University with a BA in Psychology. During her time at college, she tutored K-8 students in all subjects. After graduating, Savannah spent several years as an in-home nanny and tutor for children and teens between the ages of three and fifteen, at which time she provided support with homework and additional enrichment. She then taught at Lindamood-Bell for over three years, where she acted as a reading specialist and instructional consultant, teaching and developing individualized lesson plans for students in literacy and comprehension.

Savannah has worked extensively with students with autism, dyslexia, ADHD, executive functioning deficits, and high anxiety. When not tutoring, she can be found at the beach, practicing yoga, dancing, or designing dresses.

CLARISSA BEHRENS, SLPA

Coach Clarissa has over 14 years of experience working with a number of disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, head trauma, language delay, intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, articulation disorders, apraxia of speech, ADHD, and stuttering in both the clinical and school settings. Prior to HER experiences in speech and language, SHE started my career in Early Childhood in Education assessing the development of children.

Clarissa is neurodivergent (ADHD) and has two neurodivergent daughters. She is a passionate advocate for neurodiversity rights, mental health resources, inclusion and acceptance.

During her free time, Clarissa enjoys walking trails with her husband, daughters, and their puppy, Cooper. Her deep interest is learning and researching how to best help herself, her daughters, and her students.

HEATHER ROCHA,
MS, CRC, Professional Counselor Associate

Heather is a certified clinical rehabilitation counselor working towards licensure as a professional counselor associate. Her 12 years in the military led to finding her passion for mental health working with people navigating disability issues. She holds a master’s degree in counseling and a B.A. in Human Development.  Her area of specialty is disability counseling, education, and advocacy.

Heather’s enthusiasm for supporting neurodiverse families comes from personal and family experiences.  She is especially interested in how our brains and the rest of our body interacts with itself and our environment. She enjoys hiking, gardening, and exploring nature with her kids and with human, plant, and animal friends.

Anny Miranda-Lou, MS, TLP

 Es terapista del lenguaje y psicóloga guatemalteca. Cuenta con más de 12 años de experiencia en el servicio de terapia del lenguaje en Guatemala. Actualmente trabaja con personas autistas de 2 a 23 años. Su premisa es que "todos somos seres humanos únicos". 

Su experiencia en la implementación de Comunicación Aumentativa y Alternativa busca el acceso a la comunicación en todas las personas como un derecho humano que sea alcanzable para todas las personas. Trabaja con población autista para apoyar a desarrollar habilidades sociales basada en los intereses de las personas. 

ANNY MIRANDA-LOU

Anny is a Guatemalan speech therapist and psychologist with 12+ years of experience working with autistic individuals ages 2-23 in Guatemala. Her premise is that “we are all unique human beings.”

Karen Turiel, MS, TLP

Karen Turiel, Fonoaudióloga chilena, de la Universidad de Chile, Magister en fonoaudilogía mención Lenguaje por la Universidad de Valparaíso. Se ha desempeñado laboralmente en el área de educación desde el 2011 apoyando el desarrollo de niños y adolescentes Sordos y con trastornos del neurodesarrollo. Certificada en PEERS desde el 2021, lo que le permitió implementar el programa con adolescentes autistas escolarizados en modalidad virtual durante la Pandemia.

Karen Turiel, Chilean Speech Pathologist, from the University of Chile, Master's in Speech Therapy from the University of Valparaíso. She has worked in the area of ​​education since 2011, supporting the development of deaf children, adolescents and those with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Ruth Tessema, MS, LPC

Rush Tessema immigrated from Ethiopia at age four and grew up in Portland, Oregon. She attended Portland State University and received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology. During her time in college and pre graduate school she volunteered at Mt Hood Kiwanis Camp, Doernbecher’s Pediatric Audiology Department, and provided tutoring and mentorship in the community. Ruth graduated from Penn West University with her Master's in Counselor Education with a focus on K-12 school counseling. She holds her teaching license and worked in Portland Public Schools as an elementary school counselor. During her time in PPS, she taught social/emotional lessons to K-5 students as well as health/abuse prevention education, and executive functioning lessons. She also provided individual and small group support on various needed topics.

Today, she runs a successful private practice as a licensed professional counselor, providing psychotherapy for teens and adults with trauma history using holistic approaches. Ruth is also a breathwork facilitator and sound healing practitioner. During her freetime, she enjoys painting, picnics with friends and family, hiking in the Columbia Gorge, and spending time with her cat Leo.