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ABOUT US

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to provide the best and most comprehensive care in pediatric occupational therapy services. We are dedicated to providing children and their families quality care with individualized, personal attention to their needs. We are here because we want to help children learn the fundamentals needed to enhance their skills, and become as independent as possible to live a fuller life.




 

MEET THE TEAM

All our therapists are licensed to work in California by the California Board of Occupational Therapy (CBOT), and are certified by the National Board of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
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​Hilary W.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

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Hilary has been an occupational therapist since 2018.  She graduated with her Masters in Occupational Therapy from Loma Linda University, and from University of California Irvine, with her BA in Cognitive Psychology. She is Board Certified by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT Cert # 402646), and is licensed to practice in the State of California (Lic#18906). She has worked with children in sensory integration clinics, private practice outpatient, early intervention-home health, and non-public schools from children ages 3 months to young adult. She enjoys working with all ages, but has a passion for working in early intervention (0-173 years) and uses family centered, play, and child led/ strength based approaches to increase success with her clients. She loves to help families understand the value of OT and how sensory integration can support their child’s development. 

 

Hilary has always loved working with children, and during college worked as a kids tennis coach, teacher aide for after school programs, as well as volunteered at Karate for All. After 200 hours of volunteering, you can say karate was not her strength, but through this opportunity she learned her calling for working with neurodivergent children! 

 

Hilary started her OT career at a pediatric outpatient clinic in Carlsbad, which exposed her to a variety of different diagnoses; she also participated in intensive programs. She then worked at an outpatient ABA clinic, where she was the only OT and helped start and grow the department. Two years later she became the clinic's OT Manager, supervising OTs and COTAS, as well as taking students from local OT programs. She helped manage and grow the department; She always led with compassion, focused on providing the best care she could for her clients, and supporting her team. She greatly valued this chapter of her career, and is excited to continue to provide client centered care to the community. 

 

Ms. Hilary is so passionate about the children under her care. The moment you observe her with a child, you realize how caring and nurturing she naturally is. With years of experience as an OT in the field of pediatrics combined with a continued desire to serve the pediatric population, treatment sessions with Ms. Hilary are not only conducted skillfully, but she also puts much of her heart into them. She is a pleasure to be around and the kids are in good hands.

 

Hilary enjoys spending time with her twin sister and younger sister (who are also both in health care, as an optometrist and physical therapist). She loves going to Disneyland and traveling with her husband. Hilary’s hobbies include art (watercolor pet portraits), cooking/baking, playing tennis, and skiing. 

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Nadine A.

CERTIFIED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT

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Nadine has always enjoyed spending her time with children. Starting with babysitting and tutoring until she learned she could make an impact in a child's life by furthering their skills to maximize their potential as a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant. She has been working as a Pediatric COTA for more than 3 years now ranging from 0-21 years old with a wide range of varying diagnoses.

 

During her schooling, she became a ROP Certified Preschool Teacher's Assistant, tutored grades 5th and 6th, and joined the Best Buddies Club coordinating and assisting with sports activities and paper crafts for young adults diagnosed with Autism and Down Syndrome.

 

In 2017, she graduated from Santa Ana College with an Associates Degree in Occupational Therapy and she started working with the geriatric population in several skilled nursing facilities and hospitals in Orange County. Soon after, she found her dream job working with children and became Beckman Oral Motor Certified to evaluate and assist those who have oral motor difficulties.

 

Ms. Nadine demonstrates a FUNdamental desire to help children. She has a proven track record of implementing treatment plans that are tailored to a child's individual needs. She is a wonderful person with a positive energy and a great sense of humor. With traits like these, she is a pleasure to be around and makes her role for the kiddos look easy. 

 

Nadine is often described as patient, creative, and adaptable. She enjoys singing, playing her ukulele and sewing colorful and unique clothing.

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Leslie V.

PRESIDENT | OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

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Leslie Valmonte, M.A., OTR/L 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 an 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. She has experience working with children diagnosed with:

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  • Autism Spectrum Disorder 

  • Sensory Processing Disorder

  • ADHD/ADD 

  • Down Syndrome 

  • Cerebral Palsy 

  • DiGeorge Syndrome 

  • Fragile X 

  • Other chromosomal abnormalities 

  • Learning disabilities

  • Developmental Delays

  • Deaf/Hard of Hearing

 

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.  

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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. 

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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 a decade of experience in public schools and private clinics, 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.  

Providing Pediatric Occupational Therapy Services in Orange County, CA and other neighboring areas.  

  • La Mirada

  • Laguna Beach

  • Laguna Hills

Click The Link Below to Verify Therapists Active License

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