The Armenian Autism Outreach Project (AAOP) is an outgrowth of the Foothill Autism Alliance, Inc. (FAA), a non profit,
all-volunteers organization founded by a group of parents in 1998, dedicated to providing education, informational resources and support to parents, educators, and service providers in the autism community. Dr. Sonia Konialian-Aller, Ph.D., an Armenian speaking speech-language pathologist and university professor in communication disorders, who has been on the FAA board of directors since its founding, is spearheading the Armenian Autism Outreach Project with the able participation of a group of Armenian volunteer professionals who have expertise in serving children with autism and their families.
Mission Statement
The mission of the AAOP is to promote early identification and appropriate intervention for Armenian children and youth who
may be at risk for, or have autism, to ensure that they progress optimally in their development, achieve their highest potential
in school, and participate at their individual best as members in their community.
The founding members are (click their names to find out more):
Taline Kalfayan Ashekian obtained her M. Sc. degree with honors from the Khatchadour Apovian Yerevan State Pedagogic Institute in 1993, with a specialization in Special Education, Psychological Pedagogy, & Speech Pathology. Since, Mrs. Ashekian has worked extensively with children having communication disorders and/or special needs, with a particular focus on autistic children. From 1996 through 1999, Mrs. Ashekian filled the position of guest lecturer at the Superior Institute of Orthophony, Faculty of Medicine, University of St. Joseph, Beirut, Lebanon, alongside practicing privately her profession in speech pathology. A passionate educator by nature, over the years, she has also filled the position of both educator and teacher of Armenian language & history in various special need and regular primary schools and summer camps.
Currently, Mrs. Ashekian works as a SLPA at Lehrhoff & Associates, one of the most acclaimed speech pathology clinics in California and the US. Mastering to perfection both written and oral Armenian language, Mrs. Ashekian has always taken the lead in various voluntary initiatives to benefit her community, be it in Armenia, Lebanon, or California.
Nora Chitilian-Kalachian has a Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology and a Masters of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling from California State University Northridge. She has been working in the field of Mental Health and counseling since 1996.
During her undergraduate and graduate studies she worked as a teacher both in regular and special education schools. She has facilitated court ordered domestic violence classes with male perpetrators. She’s been a social worker working with developmentally disabled children and facilitated parent-support groups for their parents. She has also worked at the Armenian Relief Society’s Child, Youth and Family Guidance center as a therapist from 2001 until 2004 and facilitated parenting groups.
Currently she is in private practice in Glendale and works at The Help Group, a non-public school, providing therapy services for children and adolescents with Autism and Asperger’s disorders. She is active in the community and conducts workshops on parenting skills, anxiety, stress management, relationships and social skills in the community and at educational institutions, including at various Armenian schools. She’s had numerous public appearances both on TV and as an invited guest speaker at seminars.
Member to the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT).
Dr. Sonia Konialian Aller, a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, obtained a Ph.D. degree in Cognitive/Developmental Psychology from Indiana University with a specialty in language development, and a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology, after receiving her B.A. degree in Psychology from the Beirut College for Women. Since 1983, after completing an interdisciplinary Clinical Fellowship at UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute, she has provided services to children with special needs and their families, with a focus on autism among Armenian and Arabic speaking children.
Over the past 20 years at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Dr. Konialian Aller has served as Supervisor in the Division of Hearing and Speech, Communication Disorders Discipline Director at the USC University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, and faculty of its Interdisciplinary Leadership Training in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program. She is also an Adjunct Professor in Communication Disorders at California State University Los Angeles, where she teaches and provides clinical supervision in the Master’s program. Dr. Konialian Aller is a founding member of the Foothill Autism Alliance, a parent-professional volunteer organization, and has continued to serve on its Board of Directors since 1998. In the Spring of 2007 she was elected the Director-Elect of the California Speech and Hearing Association’s Division 7.
As a founding member of the AAOP, Dr. Konialian Aller is excited about developing and providing culturally responsive informational programs and resources, and family- centered parent empowerment supports to assist parents, educators, and service providers in their efforts to identify, advocate for, and meet the needs of Armenian children with autism and related neurodevelopmental challenges.
Houry Sosikian has been working with children with special needs since 2001. She holds an Education Specialist Credential and a Master’s Degree in Special Education. She currently works for Glendale Unified School District, as a Resource Specialist. Previously she has worked at The Help Group, which is a nonpublic school for children with autism. She has also worked as a behavior therapist providing discrete trial therapy. Her background encompasses working with children who are on the autism spectrum, learning disabilities, emotional disturbance, mental retardation, and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. She always works to provide a motivating and productive learning environment for all students. She has a strong passion and devotion to foster a high quality of life for her students.
Dr. Mariam Tsaturyan is a licensed, clinical psychologist in private practice in Glendale. Dr. Tsaturyan has been working with adults, adolescents, children and families treating such conditions as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and many other psychological and adjustment conditions. Although her background includes working with the chronically mentally ill and with substance abusers, she currently spends most of her time working with couples and families to help create harmony and happiness in their lives.
One of Dr. Tsaturyan’s passions is her specialty in assessing children who may be on the Autism Spectrum and/or having Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and other neurological and/or developmental disorders. She provides parents a safe, caring atmosphere where they can come to understand their children’s struggles and find hope for the future.
In addition to working in private practice, Dr. Tsaturyan is a professor of psychology at Pepperdine University and California School of Professional Psychology. When not in the office or in a classroom, she devotes her time to the Armenian Autism Outreach Project as well as the Armenian-American Mental Health Association.