Kimberly Robertson CCC-SLP, ATACP
Director of Clinical Services
Kimberly received her Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of the District of Columbia and has completed the Assistive Technology Applications Certification Program at California State University, Northridge. Kimberly now calls sunny San Diego home and brings experience in both the special education school setting as well as the clinic setting. Her extensive experience includes working with children with Autism, developmental delays, hearing loss, and verbally challenged children requiring Augmentative Alternative Communication.
She has training in the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), behavior management through Autism Training Solutions, and is Intermediate Level American Sign Language proficient. Kimberly especially enjoys working with young children and their families, focusing on child-led play based therapy to facilitate and enhance communication.
Beth Martin, MS, CCC-SLP, ATP
Beth is both an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certified Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and a Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) certified Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) who specializes in the area of language and literacy development in individuals who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Master’s degree in Counseling, Beth completed a second Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders before earning her Master’s of Science in Communication Disorders degree from Western Kentucky University. Beth also completed an advanced graduate certification program in Assistive Technology prior to becoming certified as a RESNA Assistive Technology Professional.
With almost a decade of experience in the field of education and child development, and four years of experience as an SLP, Beth has had experience working with clients ranging in age from infancy to geriatrics. Though she has had the privilege of treating clients with autism, cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, TBI, ADHD, dyslexia, intellectual disabilities, apraxia, selective mutism, and fluency disorders, it was her experience working with individuals with multiple disabilities and/or complex communication deficits that led to the discovery of her passion for providing AAC services designed to meet the unique communication needs of this population. Beth believes that all individuals are capable of communicating and developing literacy skills!
Beth’s clinical expertise in the area of AAC includes assessment; system acquisition and programming; direct treatment; communication partner coaching; and training/consultation for families, educational teams, and clinical teams on both AAC implementation and comprehensive literacy instruction. She has extensive knowledge and experience in the implementation of both low and high-tech symbol-based language systems and is skilled in determining appropriate alternate access methods (i.e.- eye-gaze, partner-assisted scanning, switch activation, etc.) when physical and/or visual impairments present a barrier to effective AAC use.
Dana Tappen, SLPD, CCC-SLP
Dana has been a pediatric speech therapist since 2004 and been with STS since 2012. Her experience includes working with charter schools, school districts, early intervention agencies, and as the director of a Non Public Agency. She also has worked at the university level as a clinical supervisor with CSUSM and currently serves as a part time faculty member at CSUN. She graduated from San Diego State University with both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, later obtained the Special Education Advocacy Certificate from the University of San Diego, and recently completed her clinical doctorate at RMUoHP. Dana is a Hanen® Certified Speech Language Pathologist in: It Takes Two to Talk®, More Than Words®, and Target Word®. She has continued to further her clinical skills by receiving advanced trainings in the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), Lidcombe Fluency Program, The SCERTS ® Model, and DIR®/Floortime™ Model. Dana also completed the Social Thinking® Clinical Training program with Michelle Garcia Winner and uses the Social Thinking® methodologies as a part of assessment and treatment sessions. She truly believes in a team approach, working together with family members and other professionals in order to foster the best possible outcome for the whole child.
Deanna Melvey, B.A., SLPA
Deanna Melvey is a Speech Language Pathologist Assistant in Southern California servicing the San Gabriel Valley. She graduated from California State University Fullerton with a Bachelor of Arts in Communicative Disorders in 2009. She loves working with children of all ages. When she’s not working she enjoys spending time with her boyfriend and family, cooking, shopping, and traveling.
Courtney Rams, M.S., CCC-SLP
Courtney Rams has been a speech-language pathologist since 2015. She has worked at Specialized Therapy Services/The Oas Center for the past four years. Her special interests include early intervention, language disorders, articulation/phonology, social skills and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Courtney has experience working in hospitals, schools and private therapy clinics. Courtney received her bachelor’s degree in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences and her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Wyoming. She is licensed by the State of California, holds a certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and is a current member of ASHA.
Allie Tyner, SLPA
Allie was born in Texas, raised in Kansas, but became rooted in San Diego in the summer of 2013. She graduated from the University of Kansas in 2011 with her B.A. in Speech-Language-Hearing and a minor in linguistics. She obtained her SLPA license in January 2020 to pursue a career in speech and language exclusively, as she realized it is a true passion of hers.
Before working at the OAS Center as a SLPA, she worked as a behavioral therapist for 7.5 years with a specialized focus in autism and has experience working with a variety of other developmental & acquired disabilities. Allie has experience working with toddler age children, teenagers, and adults. Her other passions outside of work include hiking with her dog, guiding others to live healthy & active lifestyles, and running her own company related to food allergies, Allergy Safe Card.
Natalia Rodriguez
I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas and just moved to San Diego. I attended The University of Texas at Austin for my Bachelors and Our Lady of the Lake University for my Masters. I’ve worked 5 years in a school setting, working primarily with bilingual students. I speak Spanish fluently.
I enjoy playing soccer, reading, and being outdoors in my free time. My next goal is to learn how to surf! I also love to travel, I’m always up for a travel adventure!