Meet Leslie V.
Hi! I’m Leslie, a pediatric occupational therapist and the founder of KID FUNdamentals Therapy Center. I started this practice in 2019 in a small suite across the building from where we are currently located, working on my own with one simple goal: to create a supportive, welcoming space where children feel safe to grow and families feel truly heard.
​
I’ve always been passionate about helping children build the skills they need to thrive in their everyday lives — whether that means gaining independence with self-care, strengthening fine motor skills, developing regulation, or navigating sensory challenges. Every child is unique, and I believe therapy should reflect that. Our approach at KID FUNdamentals is individualized, play-based, and rooted in building trust first.
Since then, we’ve expanded twice and built a wonderful team, all while staying grounded in the same mission we started with. We’re grateful to continue serving our community and surrounding cities.
​
Thank you for being here and for considering KID FUNdamentals to be part of your child’s journey.
​
Sincerely,
​
​
Leslie's Story
Leslie is the owner of KID FUNdamentals Therapy Center, Inc. Leslie has worked as a Pediatric Occupational Therapist ever since she was board certified and licensed. For over 11 years, she worked for one of the largest school districts in Southern California, providing school-based occupational therapy services to special education students. In addition, she also has years of experience working in outpatient pediatric therapy clinics in the Southern California area.
​
In her time working as a Pediatric Occupational Therapist, she has worked with a wide age range spanning from Early Intervention clients ages 0-3 and up to older children in their mid-teens. Throughout her career, Leslie has experience working with children with various diagnoses including Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD/ADD, Sensory Processing Disorder, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, DiGeorge Syndrome, Fragile X, Learning Disabilities, Deaf/Hard of Hearing, and Developmental Delays.
​
Leslie graduated with a Master of Arts degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California in 2007. In addition, she also graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California in 2006. Leslie is Board Certified by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT Cert #236397) and is licensed to practice in the State of California (Lic #9792).
​
She has a Sensory Integration Praxis Test (SIPT) certification (Cert #3473), and is trained in the Beckman Oral Motor Protocol and SOS Approach to Feeding. She has taken additional courses to further her knowledge to better serve the pediatric population - Handwriting Without Tears, The Alert Program, Zones of Regulation, and topics related to feeding, food aversions, Autism, ADHD/ADD, and sensory integration.
​
Leslie, or as most of her clients call her – “Ms. Leslie,” chose to become an Occupational Therapist in Pediatrics because of her passion for children. Throughout her college years, Ms. Leslie has had a wide breadth of internships that exposed her to numerous avenues of Occupational Therapy - physical rehabilitation, hand therapy, and mental health. It was until an internship that involved children was when she realized her calling to the pediatric field.
Going into private practice has been a path Leslie has always envisioned. Upon completing the requirements to become a registered and licensed Occupational Therapist, she first focused her energies in becoming a skilled clinician by gaining hands-on experience to provide quality care to those she serves. Now, with over 18 years of experience, Leslie brings depth needed to provide services in private practice.
In her free time, Ms. Leslie enjoys spending time with her husband and kids, trips to theme parks, event planning for family and friends, and is an avid foodie.