Yvonne Soto

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Yvonne began her connection with DDSO when she came to Stockton to complete a six-month Music Therapy Internship at the Alan Short Center (ASC) in Stockton. Three months into her internship, she was selected by the National Committee Arts for the Handicapped as the California Project Coordinator. As the Project Coordinator, she developed and implemented the Very Special Arts Festival and staff training in schools countywide over a three-year grant period.

“When I first began working for DDSO, I thought it was about making a difference in the lives of people with developmental disabilities. I quickly learned that it’s more of a two-way process – we all make a difference in each other’s lives. Working for DDSO is really more about bringing the community together.”

Shortly thereafter Yvonne was selected to coordinate the ASC Music Therapy Clinical Training program, which recruited interns from universities across the United States. Yvonne eventually took on the role of the both the ASC & ASCAP Program Director positions, where she remained for several years before working at DDSO Administration Headquarters.

After a brief stint at Deputy Director for DDSO, Yvonne assumed the role of CEO in 2007.

Jennifer Bonacorso

 Jennifer has worked at DDSO since 2005 managing the day to day operations of the company. Before moving into the Operations position Jennifer had the fortunate experience to work in the field with DDSO’s clients as a staff member for the Community Integration Program. It was this experience that has made helping run such an incredible company all the more rewarding and invaluable to her.

Previously Jennifer worked in the Information Technology field as the Director of Information Technology for Coldwell Banker Northern California, Oregon and South West Washington.

She currently resides in Rocklin Ca, with her family. When not found working at DDSO she can be found at the swimming pool, following her passion of Synchronized Swimming. She is the head coach of the Sunrise Swans Synchronized Swim Team and a member of the US Masters Synchro Team swimming out of Sacramento CA with the Sacramento Synchronized Swim Team.

Trish Williams

 Trish Williams was born and raised in San Francisco, CA but left the city for the better weather of the Sacramento valley. Trish loves pets, especially Loki, the dog that came to her door looking for a new home earlier this year! Before working for DDSO, Trish worked at Walgreens in Richmond for 9 years. Trish then joined the DDSO team as a Bookkeeper in 2001. Trish enjoys working here, because she believes that DDSO is making a difference in the lives of adults with developmental disabilities.

Sheila Abrams

Originally from Kansas, Sheila attended college in California and is a Certified Medical Assistant and American Sign Language interpreter. She has previously worked as a Transition Coordinator, where she supported students with disabilities by teaching them health, community, and independent living skills, and created programs for Social Development. Sheila believes the most important rights clients have is the right to live their lives in the manner they wish to, and strives to achieve an environment of mutual respect, growth, and support.

“I knew early on I wanted to spend my life helping and supporting adolescents and adults from diverse backgrounds and ones with social/emotional and physical disabilities. I realized that such a path […] would make me rich in Joy! Joy for being able to truly help someone, joy at seeing others make a change because of my support, joy at having ones come to me years later and tell me that I’ve helped them change their lives.”

Margarita Garcia

 Magi started working with DDSO in 1996, as a Secretary through a temp agency. Since she had no prior experience working in this field, she figured she would only be here for a short period of time; that was 16 years ago. Magi loves being at ASC for many reasons; but mostly it’s the clients that motivate her to find ways to serve them better.

Dennis Curry

 Dennis began working in this field back in 1976 and previously worked at DDSO at the original Short Center, as well as the Alan Short Center and DDSO Administrative Office. After working in the private sector Dennis returned to DDSO in 2009 to become the Program Director for DDSO-Employment Plus.

E+ makes a difference in the lives of the people who attend our program by offering them hope; hope in succeeding, hope in becoming a more valued member of our society through work. We think outside of “The Box” by offering non-traditional employment training opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities in such areas as Video and Audio Production. Our students are learning how to become an Audio Engineer or a Film Editor, Screenwriter, Producer, Camera Operator, and so much more. We teach The Basics, but will always strive to go far beyond standard employment training.

“I continue to stay at E+ because, although we have achieved great positive strides, there is always so much more we can and WILL do to make a true difference in the lives of those we serve.”

John Berger

 John started working with DDSO in November of 2000, previous to this he had no experience working with this population. He was recruited as an art facilitator by some of the staff at Short Center North (SCN). He had been a practicing artist in the Sacramento community for about 10+ years and his day job was selling and merchandising wine for a local distributor, and doing some landscaping jobs on the side. John did have previous knowledge of SCN and it’s artists prior to being hired: he had seen several of their art shows, had visited the center, purchased art work, and had a few friends that worked for DDSO.

The first time he was exposed to SCN’s art and artists he was blown away! The art was genuine and pure and came from a place few artists only wish they could access. The artists themselves were the most amazing sincere people he had ever met. SCN also had (and still does) an amazing and dedicated staff. The combination of the people and artwork made the transition towards his new occupation very easy. Since being at SCN/DDSO he has worn many different hats and loved every moment of it. Upon arrival to SCN he also discovered the St. Marks Campus also had a greenhouse and a vegetable garden (one of his other passions). Neither of these had been used in a while and with the permission of former Program Director, Kathy Powell, he began to get it all functioning again. Today that same garden provides occasional produce to 3 local Sacramento restaurants.

In 2005 John became the Assistant Program Director under Rik Tillson, and in 2009 he became the SCN Program Director.

“My role at SCN has changed and I am not in the classroom like I used to be, I am motivated to empower and provide our consumers as many possibilities as I can. My staff and I are always searching for venues and opportunities in our community to display their art work. Over the years I have curated several shows outside of SCN and I have always made it a priority to integrate SCN artists into these shows. My future agenda for SCN is to keep integrating our clients into the community and have them be viewed as an integral part of the Sacramento area and beyond. I believe that the arts provide a perfect vehicle for this, and allows people to view our clients as competent artists and not a person with disabilities.”

James Anderson

 James C. Anderson is an Ellie Award winning actor and director, and has appeared on California Stage in the bilingual production of Moliere’s Le Medecin Malgre Lui/The Doctor in Spite of Himself. He has performed with numerous regional theatres and Shakespeare Festivals. He teaches drama at Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks. In 1988 he founded The Short Center Repertory, and has served as Artistic Director since. The Short Center Repertory has been the recipient of two grants from The National Endowment for the Arts, and numerous grants from The California Arts Council and the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, Cultural Awards Program.

Stacey Hilton

Stacey has worked as a volunteer and staff member for nonprofit arts organizations since 2005, including the Pence Gallery, the Center for Contemporary Art, Sacramento, the Crocker Art Museum and the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission.  An advocate for life-long learning, she returned to college in 2006 to earn a second BA in art education and an MA in museum education.

Stacey joined DDSO in 2014, eager to assist the team and support DDSO’s vision, mission and values and manages Capitol Books and Gifts, the California State Capitol Museum gift shop.

When Stacy’s not spending time relaxing with her husband, dog and two cats, she enjoys drawing and making jewelry.

Ayo Jacobs

Ayo, born and raised in the city of San Francisco, is a Bay Area native. She has lived in Sacramento for nearly 20 years with her two daughters. Her customer service and office assistance experience spans over 20 years in retail and the private sector.  She joined DDSO in November 2017 as an Administrative Secretary.

Ger Moua

Ger earned a Bachelors in Gerontology from CSUS. She joined DDSO in 2012 and has a variety of experience working with young adults on the Autism spectrum in a residential school, skilled nursing facility, and behavioral management adult day program.

It is important to her to have the participants to continue to make the choice they want and to do things for themselves as much as they can to maintain their independence.

“Coming to program is something that these participants look forward to every day. We are like a family to them and they are happy to be at program. This is where the participants get one on one time with the staff and that’s what they need. This motivates me to be here every day to see them smile and to strive for growth and independence.”