About JLD Therapy

Serving San Jose and the surrounding areas with premier pediatric therapy options

 

Welcome to Joy & Laughter: a vibrant, positive, affirming environment where your child can

bloom.

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JLD Therapy began in 2012 to fix a troubling trend in therapy that we saw every day at other practices: lack of communication between staff and limited options for parents. Too often, the healthcare system seemed broken, unable to help people, suffering from too much bureaucratic red-tape and outdated rules. We knew that there must be a better way, one that would empower therapists, parents, and children to work together to reach the highest outcomes.

Full of excitement and ready to change the world, we decided to create a place where therapists were able to connect and communicate, and parents were encouraged to make informed decisions.

Our goal: help parents be intimately involved in their child’s therapy process.

We freely and fully tell each family what roadblocks we see, offer all the available solutions, and then encourage them to help determine their child’s therapy plan. Therapy is a process, not a quick-fix pill, and a range of techniques are often needed to address all aspects. But the payoff is incredible. The kids we serve have been blossoming  – and from what we hear, it’s a great place to work too!

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 “The entire team at Joy & Laughter is amazing! From the admin staff to the therapists. My son has been going there for OT and speech for 4 months and 2 months respectively and has improved immensely. Also, insurance has been super uncooperative, but the lovely admin staff has been super helpful. Thank you all!!”

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From our amazing admin staff to our highly-trained therapists, at Joy & Laughter, you’ll find a warm and welcoming environment for your family.

Our spaces are bright, with the right balance of color and calm to bring a kid-friendly, tranquil atmosphere, while all our sessions are play-based therapies, with fun as the focus. Yes, we do have plenty of fun and play in our sessions! Not only is play how children learn and grow, but Joy & Laughter Developmental Therapy is here to help make childhood fun again, for everyone.

Over the years we’ve expanded to two locations, and a variety of services including occupational, physical, speech, and feeding therapies. Our therapists are experts in their fields, and, with the built-in collaboration time we have, are able to coordinate, discuss, and optimize therapy techniques for all our patients. You are the expert in your child. We pair you with experts in development to create a powerful team that will empower both you and your child to learn and grow.

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Check out the images below to get a feel for our office and therapy rooms.

Learn more about our wonderful staff below!

Meet our Clinical Staff

Ms. Escarlet

Speech Language Pathologist

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Bio

Escarlet became a therapist in 2020 and has worked with toddlers to teenagers. She has two years of experience treating in English and Spanish on Telehealth. Escarlet has experience working with ASD, down syndrome, and speech delay.
 
She is excited to be a part of the JLD team because of the bond and connection everyone has to one another. She is looking forward to expanding her experience as a therapist.
 
Outside of work, Escarlet enjoys hiking, going to the beach, and going to amusement parks. Her favorite quote is “If you can dream it, you can do it”-Walt Disney.
 
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Mr. Kieran

Speech Language Pathologist – Clinical Fellow

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Kieran received his Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology from San Jose State 2024. He has experience seeing early intervention to adult populations. Kieran has seen clients varying from fluency, language, articulation, AAC and more and has experience in private practice, clinic, and school setting. Kieran is excited to be working at JLD and to be working with a wide range of clients and collaborate with coworkers with different disciplinary backgrounds. Kieran’s background coaching speech led him to speech pathology and he has been training in the field ever since.

Outside of work, Kieran likes to learn how to make new foods, go see lots of movies (thank you AMC A-list), and go hiking. He also likes to find new board games to play and get people together for game nights!

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Ms. Livia

Speech Language Pathologist – Clinical Fellow , Feeding Specialist

 

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Livia received her Bachelor’s degree in SLP from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, her Master’s degree in Pediatrics in SLP from the Hospital das Clínicas of the Medical School of the University of São Paulo, and a Specialization in Neopediatrics from the Faculdade Integrada da Amazônia, all in Brazil. Currently, she is studying at San Jose State University (SJSU) to further her professional development.
With over two years of experience, she has obtained certifications in Maternal Consulting and Pediatric Care, Neopediatric feeding, and child development. Her passion lies in providing comprehensive treatments, including feeding and breastfeeding support, Rehabilitation of orofacial motor skills, communication development in children, aural rehabilitation, and neonatal auditory screening. Livia has experience working with the pediatric population (0 months – 18 years) spanning across various healthcare settings, including outpatient clinics as well as high-complexity hospital units.
 
She chooses JLD Therapy for its excellent reputation in therapy services, personalized client care, and support for professional growth. The opportunity to collaborate with passionate professionals dedicated to making a positive impact on clients’ lives fills her with pride.
Outside of work, she is a vibrant individual who enjoys learning, traveling, exploring new culinary experiences, and engaging in outdoor activities. A devoted pet parent to her Siberian Husky, Cody, she cherishes spending quality time with family and friends, indulging in conversations, watching movies and series, attending live music concerts, and savoring strawberry ice cream.
 
She enjoys series and movies such as ‘Harry Potter’, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, ‘Game of Thrones’, ‘Friends’, etc. She also enjoys attending live music concerts, with some of her favorite artists including Maroon 5, Coldplay, Meghan Trainor, etc. Additionally, she enjoys reading books by Neil Gaiman, autobiographies, and those by J.K. Rowling. One of her favorite quotes is, ‘The only way to do great work is to love what you do,’ by Steve Jobs.
 
 
 
 
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Ms. Stacey

Physical Therapist 

 

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Stacey received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Eastern Washington University in 2017. She attended Azusa Pacific to receive her Bachelor’s in Applied Exercise Science. Stacey has experience working in many settings  including outpatient, early intervention, home health, and school based. She has treated children from birth through high school with various diagnoses including delayed milestones, abnormalities in mobility/walking, torticollis, and plagiocephaly, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, infants with a history of fetal drug exposure, and children with genetic abnormalities.

Stacey has completed clinical rotations in skilled nursing and acute care with an emphasis on oncological management. She has volunteered abroad with the opportunity to practice PT in various settings with limited resources, language barriers, and various other factors atypical to a standard clinical set up in the States.
Outside of work, Stacey loves exploring the great outdoors, exploring the great countries of the world, and exploring great food that surrounds us…and is happy as a clam if she can do all three at once!
She loves working with kids in a collaborative environment where physical, occupational, and speech therapists can all work together to provide the best care for the patients we see.

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Mr. Sam

Occupational Therapist

 

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Sam graduated from Samuel Merritt University in 2023 with a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy, and from CSU Monterey Bay in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology: exercise science emphasis. He is excited to join the team because JLD offers a unique experience of working with the entire family collaboratively which is something he enjoyed during his previous experiences of working with families within the internationally unhoused population. Being a new father himself, Sam enjoys helping other families grow and experience their children hitting milestones, however small/large they may be. Additionally, he enjoys the collaboration and camaraderie amongst his colleagues which allows for a more unified experience for all involved in the therapy process.
 
Sam has experience working with the pediatric/adolescent population, working with youth (6 months – 18 years) as well as adults (18 years – 65 years) with ASD, traumatic brain injury, self-regulation deficits, adverse childhood experiences (internationally displaced families; physical and psychological trauma), chronic pain, organ transplant, cardiovascular disease/disorders, and orthopedic trauma. Sam’s certifications include ACES aware and CALTRIN Mental Health Matters in Early Childhood.
 
Outside of work he enjoys playing with his daughter, however, when he gets some downtime, he enjoys outdoor activities including winter sports (snowboarding), exercising (Olympic weightlifting & sports specific exercises), and initiating woodworking projects. He enjoys reading political sci-fi, mostly the Dune, Stephen King (IT, The Shining, Doctor Sleep, etc…), Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut novels. There are too many movies that he enjoys to list but he prefers comedies.
 
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Ms. Bernadette

Occupational Therapist

 

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Bernadette became a therapist in 2019. Bernadette graduated with her Masters in Occupational Therapy at Samuel Merritt University. As primarily a school-based occupational therapist, she wanted to gain more knowledge about a clinical approach to therapy and how it can optimize a child’s independence in their community and home environment.

She has experience working with children with ASD (mild, mod, and severe), Down Syndrome, ADHD, SLD, etc. Not only does she have OT experience in a school-based setting, but she also has experience in home-based ABA services.

Outside of work, Bernadette enjoys spending quality time with family, friends, and her dog Cookie. She also loves exploring new places, restaurants, and craft coffee shops.

 

 

 

 

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Ms. Marilyn

Occupational Therapy Assistant, Feeding Specialist

 

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Marilyn became a therapist in 2017 and came to California through an agency for travel therapy; she fell in love with the state. Because each of these contracts are only a few months long, she has a wide variety of clinical experience. She’s played a role in schools, private pediatric clinics, nursing homes, adult outpatient, and in home health, serving all ages. Private pediatrics, however, is where Marilyn’s heart truly is. She’s passionate about helping children develop and thrive in the world around them.
From the moment that she first laid eyes on a pediatric outpatient clinic just like JLD in school, Marilyn knew that it was what she wanted to do. The ethos of JLD empowers her to serve children in the community, and create meaningful growth.
Outside of work, Marilyn enjoys crocheting stuffed animals and playing Dungeons and Dragons. She is also an avid reader. Her favorite book is the whimsical, magical, Howl’s Moving Castle, by Diana Wynne Jones.
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Ms. Anna

Speech Language Pathologist

 

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Anna received her Masters in Speech-Language Pathology from Indiana University, Bloomington and completed the STEPS (Speech Therapy Education, Practicum, and Services) bilingual track.  Anna has always loved working with children and has experience providing services in both English and Spanish. Anna has been practicing as a speech pathologist in the Bay Area since 2019. She has had experience in inpatient and outpatient medical settings with children and adults but has the most experience working in school settings with children ages 3-14. Anna has worked with clients with a variety of communication levels and developmental conditions, including expressive/receptive language disorders, articulation, phonology, social pragmatics, analytic and gestalt language processors.  She is excited to work collaboratively with other service providers at JLD and help children grow their communication skills.

Outside of work, Anna enjoys doing puzzles, reading, enjoying nature, and the occasional dance class. She loves popcorn, all kinds of snacks, and boba tea.

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Ms. Jacqulen

Speech Language Pathologist

 

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Jacqulen Hamilton is a Speech Language Pathologist who received her Master’s Degree in Communication Disorders from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia and is proud to be the first person in her family to achieve that level of education. Jackie has been treating in a variety of settings since 2003 including outpatient clinics, home health, early intervention, and schools seeing children from newborn to 21 years of age. She has seen a wide range of communication issues and diagnoses  from cleft palates, various genetic disorders, apraxia of speech, language disorders, articulation disorders, phonological disorders, TBI’s, dysfluency of speech, cerebral palsy, ASD, and hearing impairments.
 
Jackie has always enjoyed working with children and is excited to join the JLD Therapy team! She can’t wait to meet new kids and their families while trying to enhance their communication and lives in any way she can.
 
Outside of work, Jackie enjoys spending time with her family. She is the mother of two boys–Caden and Camdyn–and a dog mom to a Siberian Husky named Livie. She has been married to her high school sweetheart, Jimmy, for over 25 years. They spend most of their down time camping, hiking, and kayaking around their home state of Kentucky. Jackie also loves reading, crafts such as crochet and cross stitch, word puzzles, and yoga. Jackie loves reading historical fiction books and watching family comedies, such as “Blended”. She also enjoys listening to several different true crime podcasts in her spare time.
 
 
 
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Ms. Ping

Speech Language Pathologist

 

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Ping received her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at The University of Washington. During her two years in grad school, she gained experience in the school, clinical, and hospital settings. She has had the opportunity to work with clients who have different diagnoses across their lifespans. Ping worked with children in outpatient and school settings from birth up to age 21. She has also worked with adults in the hospital setting during her clinical practice and full-time internship. Diagnoses that she has experience in include speech and language delay/disorders, voice disorders, swallowing disorders, and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder.

Ping looks forward to working with younger children from birth to age 12, as she has the most experience working with this age range. She loves that JLD adopts a multidisciplinary approach and that she will get a chance to learn from other disciplines such as OT to provide holistic care.

Outside of work, Ping enjoys spending time with family and friends, working out, enjoying the outdoors, listening to music, and exploring new places or restaurants in the city/town she lives in. Most of Ping’s family lives in Malaysia, so she spends quite a bit of time on FaceTime to keep in touch with them. A few of her favorite shows include Modern Family, Friends, and Schitt’s Creek.

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Ms. Alejandra

Speech Language Pathologist Assistant

 

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Alejandra studied to become an SLPA at San Jose State University and California State University East Bay. She received her certification in 2022 and is ecstatic to join the JLD team. JLD has provided a great sense of community and has shown compassion for the children they treat. She is very excited to provide amazing experiences for families at the clinic. Alejandra has had the opportunity to work closely alongside Speech Language Pathologists at KIPP public schools with Middle & High school students. Her experiences include treating articulation disorders, autism, and language delays.
 
Outside of work, Alejandra enjoys scrapbooking and arts and crafts. You can find her spending time with her husband and her corgi at the park. Her favorite movies and shows include Sweet Tooth, Stranger Things, and A Man Called Otto. “You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way!”-Dr. Seuss
 

 

 
 
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Ms. Jennifer

Speech Language Pathologist, Feeding Specialist

 

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Since earning her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Arizona Jennifer has specialized in pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders; working in hospitals, clinics and home health settings. For over 10 years she has been evaluating and treating children, newborns to adolescents, with a variety of disorders including, premature birth, autism spectrum disorders, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, tongue and tip tie, cleft lip and palate, organ transplant recipients and medically fragile children. She has transitioned medically fragile infants and children from tube feedings to oral feedings and advised physicians on feeding tube removals. She has completed training in the “Get Permission Approach to Feeding Therapy”, “Beckman Oral Motor Protocol,” and “Tethered Oral Tissues Specialty Training.” Additionally, she has specialized training in the underlying medical causes of feeding and swallowing disorders and in assembling and working with an interdisciplinary medical team to address often overlooked medical issues. She conducts training with local medical professionals to provide education on pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders. She uses a whole-body approach when assessing and treating feeding and swallowing disorders.

Jennifer is a certified infant massage instructor and utilizes these skills to teach family massage techniques that improve parent-child attachment, muscle activation, and digestion. She also enjoys and has experience in providing pediatric speech and language evaluations and therapy to children with a variety of special needs including those who have a tracheostomy tube, are medically fragile, born premature, have developmental delays, autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, cognitive disabilities, chromosome abnormalities, drug exposure, tongue thrust, etc. Jennifer has advanced proficiency in American Sign Language and has employed this skill to improve the communication within D/deaf and hard of hearing families and hearing families who want to use a total communication approach. She is TOTS certified as well.

Jennifer and her husband have three young children. They all love riding bikes, hiking, and exploring California together. She is scuba certified and loves traveling back home to Florida to dive in the warm water.

 

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Mr. Eric

Speech Language Pathologist

 

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Eric May is a Speech Language Pathologist. He also speaks Spanish.

Eric became a therapist in 2017 after receiving his Masters Degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Texas at Dallas. He started his career in Geriatrics working in skilled nursing and home health. He made the switch to pediatrics in 2020 and is loving it. Telehealth is the future and he is so impressed by how well his patients and their families benefit.
 
Eric has joined our team to grow his telehealth caseload and expand his professional experience. He is loving the small company personalized feel so far and looks forward to continued growth.
 
Outside of work, Eric loves to travel. He has been to over 30 countries. He also loves exercise such as hiking, spin class and weight lifting. He also loves to eat and works out a lot too. His favorite music is Pink Floyd, favorite movie is Beetlejuice, favorite country that he visited is Argentina and his favorite food is ceviche.
 
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Ms. Hazel

Speech Language Pathology Assistant

 

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Hazel graduated from California Baptist University with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders and became a Speech Language Pathologist Assistant in 2023. She has experience working with the pediatric population and treating in both English and Spanish. Hazel has seen a wide range of communication issues and diagnosis from Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Fluency, Articulation, and receptive/expressive language disorders.
 
Hazel is excited to join the JLD team because she looks forward to working with younger children, since she has more experience working with this age range. Hazel also appreciates the opportunity to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to provide the best possible treatment for the families she works with.
 
Outside of work, Hazel loves to make pottery, paint, read, spend time outdoors with her dog, and enjoys going on road trips. She also loves Marvel movies!
 
 
 
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Ms. Poonam

Occupational Therapist

 

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Poonam became an occupational therapist in 2006. She speaks Hindi and Marathi. She has a Masters in Occupational therapy from the State University of New York and has Certificates and Continues Education in the following: DIR floortime course, OT Pediatric primer from infants to school based and transitioning to adults, handwriting skills, and Autism. Her clinical experience includes 16 years of experience working with adults in skilled nursing, assisted living, and independent living facilities. She was the Director of Rehabilitation in CCRCs, she was a mentor to new hires, She was a clinical instructor to OTA and OT students. She has experience in home health, outpatient setting, and being a special education aide in the school district.
 
She chose to work here at JLD Therapy because it’s an awesome place to work, learn and grow.

Poonam is an avid reader. She likes to try different cuisines, travel, and spend time with family and friends. Some of her favorites include Harry Potter and LOTR books and movies, Stranger Things, and Bridgerton.

 

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Ms. Anna

Speech Language Pathologist

 

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Graduating with a master’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Baylor University in 2021, Anna brings five years of dedicated experience to the field of Speech-Language Pathology. She is particularly passionate about working with the pediatric bilingual Spanish-English population, employing a diverse range of treatment approaches.
 
Beyond the professional arena, Anna loves to travel, explore new culinary delights, and engages in various outdoor activities. Her cherished moments also include quality time spent with her cat, Ellie, and baking.
 
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Ms. Kavita

Occupational Therapist

 

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Kavita became a therapist in 2022. She earned her Bachelors of Science and Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy at San Jose State University.
 
She has experience working with children of 2 to 10 years old with various diagnoses such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (mild, moderate, severe) and other developmental delays for 6+ years in clinic, schools, and home settings. In addition to obtaining her OTR/L, Kavita has a background in providing in-home ABA services for children with autism. Furthermore, she has experience working with adults in a skilled nursing facility with diagnoses of stroke, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury.
 
Kavita shares Joy and Laughter Developmental Therapy’s mission of providing play-based therapy to allow children to grow and reach their fullest potential. She is patient, hard working dedicated, creative, light-hearted, and a fun person who loves to make therapy sessions productive and enjoyable. She understands the importance of and has experience collaborating with parents to ensure that their child receives the best possible care within the clinic, home, and community settings. Kavita loves to learn something new every day and strives to improve her practice as an occupational therapist. In the future, Kavita plans to gain skills in Sequential-Oral-Sensory approach to feeding and Handwriting Without Tears program.
 
Outside of work, Kavita enjoys traveling to new places, hiking, exploring new cuisines, baking, and spending quality time with family and friends. In her spare time, Kavita also enjoys attending various sporting events such as Golden State Warriors basketball and SF Giants baseball.
 

 

 

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Ms. Camille

Speech Language Pathologist

 

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Camille received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Disorders and Sciences and a Masters of Arts in Education with an emphasis in Speech Language Pathology, both from San Jose State University. Camille has been working as an SLP since 2016 with ages 1 to 16 in both the school and clinical setting. She has experience in early intervention, Autism, Receptive and Expressive Language, Fluency, and Speech Sound Disorders. She is also a Natural Language Acquisition Trained Clinician for Gestalt Language Processing.
 
Camille enjoys getting outdoors (locally, nationally, and internationally!). She enjoys spending time with her dog, practicing yoga, and enjoying life with her fiancé and her family. Her favorite book is Be Here Now, with her favorite quote being from that book – “Don’t compare your path to anybody else’s. Your path is unique to you.”
 
Camille appreciates JLD’s approach in holistic treatment and multidisciplinary collaboration. The neurodiversity affirming treatment approach is something she values within her therapy and loves working with professionals who share this same mindset!
 

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Ms. Kelly

Occupational Therapist

 

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Kelly recently received her Doctorate from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2022. She received the Excellence in Scholarship Award. Previously, she received her Bachelor’s in Kinesiology with a minor in Humanities from San Jose State University where she was on the Dean’s Scholar list for 2 years. Kelly has experience in school-based settings, early intervention, and outpatient pediatrics. She has worked with numerous diagnoses including ASD, ADHD, and cerebral palsy, and enjoys applying sensory based activities with her clients.
 
Back in 2019, Kelly was looking for places to volunteer and stumbled upon JLD Therapy. She had just started a draft email to ask if JLD Therapy was accepting volunteers, but never actually sent that email. She remembers wanting to volunteer with JLD Therapy because it looked like a very fun and inclusive place! Now, Kelly is happy to work here because of the family and client centered approach as it’s something she truly believes in. She believes JLD emphasizes the importance of family support, it creates a space that is engaging for the client and family, and utilizes play and sensory based therapies!
 
Outside of work, Kelly enjoys spending time with friends and family. She enjoys reading, video games, Korean dramas, traveling, playing with pets, and sleeping! Her favorite singer is Lauv, and some of her favorite series include Harry Potter, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and New Girl.
 
 
 

 

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Ms. Marissa

Speech Language Pathology Assistant

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Marissa received her Bachelor’s degree with highest honors in Communication Sciences and Disorders, her Associates degree with highest honors in Speech and Language Pathology Assistant program, and became a therapist in 2020. She has experience treating 3 years old through 22 years old, with diagnoses including: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Specific Learning Disability, Traumatic Brain Injury, Speech and Language Disorders (including Childhood Apraxia of Speech, Dysarthria, articulation and fluency disorders), Visual Impairments, Intellectual Disability, Deaf/Hard of Hearing, and Other Health Impairments. Marissa wanted to pursue a partnership with JLD Therapy because of the quality of care provided to the surrounding community. She believes that every individual that comes through JLD Therapy’s doors deserves the highest degree of respect, compassion, and individualized care.

Marissa loves to fall into stories that can carry her away to different worlds, playing video games, immersing herself in nature, and going on adventures with her husband. She loves trying new foods, learning about different cultures, and studying various languages! Some of her favorite books include The Great Gatsby, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and the Sherlock Holmes series.

Her favorite quote is “Not all who wander are lost.” – J.R.R. Tolkien

      

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Ms. Neeti

Speech Language Pathologist 

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Neeti received a Master of Science degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from New York University in 2021 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2017.
 
Neeti is excited about JLD Therapy’s collaborative environment and the focus on play based therapy. She is Level 1 certified in Developmental, Individual Difference, Relationship (DIR)/Floortime and has completed the Introduction to PROMPT course. Neeti is passionate about following the child’s lead and interests in order to promote engagement and communication.
 
Neeti recently moved back to San Jose after living in New York City for 5 years. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring the Bay Area and spending time with her friends and family. Her favorite TV shows are Friends, New Girl, and Grey’s Anatomy.

       

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Ms. Katelyn

Speech Language Pathologist

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Katelyn received her Master’s in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from New York University. She has been a Speech Language Pathologist in the school setting since 2022, and has experience treating kids from ages 3-18. Some of her specialties include working with autism, speech sound disorders, stuttering, and developmental language disorders. She is to be a part of the JLD team because of the collaborative approach.

Outside of work, you can find Katelyn reading, writing, and spending time with her family!

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Ms. Anali

Occupational Therapy Student Intern

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Anali has received her Bachelors in Liberal Studies at California State University Monterey Bay, and is currently pursuing a Masters of Occupational Therapy at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.

Anali has a background of working in ABA for children ages 2-17 in home health, school based, and clinical setting. She has experience treating both English and SPanish speaking families, and she is looking forward to continuing her educational journey at JLD for the next 3 months. Pediatrics has always been a passion of hers and is eager to continue fueling that passion with knowledge and expertise.

Outside of work, Anali loves to play soccer and travel. She also loves to go on walks and other silly adventures with her toddler.
 
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Ms. Vanessa

Occupational Therapy Student Intern

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Vanessa earned her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology – Clinical Movement from CSU Fullerton and is now pursuing her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy at Stanbridge University. She has experience from volunteering at a martial arts clinic for children aged 2 to 15 that integrates occupational therapy with the technique of karate. Vanessa also has a background in providing ABA therapy to children with various diagnoses including ASD, cerebral palsy, and ADHD. She continues to gain experience in different settings like outpatient peds, inpatient rehab, and skilled nursing facility.

Vanessa is passionate about advancing her education and experience with JLD Therapy because she loves engaging with children through play and collaboration. She believes that play is essential for development, as it helps children build the skills they need to navigate their early years. Vanessa is excited to learn from the JLD team and apply her skills to offer holistic care.

Outside of her academic life, Vanessa enjoys taking the time to unwind and go to the gym. She enjoys looking up new recipes to try, exploring new cafes, and spending quality time with her partner and friends. When there is downtime, Vanessa loves to stay in bed, catch up on all her K-dramas, and rewatch TV shows like New Girl and Friends.

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Meet Our Admin Staff

Mr. Tyler

Support Staff and ADA Instructor

 

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Tyler Davis has a background in Business Management with an emphasis on small business entrepreneurship and recently graduated from San Jose State University. Tyler is looking to explore creative ways to provide occupational therapy practices to a varying degree of children. While providing an organic decentralized work environment where therapists have the creative freedom to explore new treatments while building on the Fundamentals of therapy.

In addition to daily operations, Tyler is an American Heart Instructor. He has been providing CPR and First Aid education for parents since 2018. In his free time, Tyler enjoys gardening and playing disc golf with his son Oliver. He also likes taking care of his chickens and brewing beer.

 

 

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Ms. Zita

Customer Service  Associate

 

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Zita speaks Portuguese fluently and has a Bachelor Degree in Business Management. She chose to join our JLD Therapy team because it’s a great place to work.
 
She enjoys reading, hiking and working out. Nora Roberts is her favorite Author.
 
 
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Ms. Cassandra Joy

Customer Service  Associate

 

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Cassandra Joy received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She also became a Registered Psychometrician. She is outsourced from the company HelloRache, and is blessed to join the JLD team.
 
She loves working for JLD because  the company takes good care of its clients/patients and also its staff. JLD is also a company where there is professional growth for its employees. She has already learned a lot of things while performing her duties!
 
On the weekends, Cassandra Joy spends her time with family and loved ones and cuddling with her furbaby. She enjoys eating at the beach where she lives and loves traveling. She also has a passion for cleaning and organizing! Her  favorite series is Friends. She always goes back to rewatch it!
 
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Mr. Marcos

Receptionist

 

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Marcos Prudente Vazquez received his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies and graduated with cum laude honors from San Jose State University.
Marcos wants to work for a company that seeks to make the world a better place. He is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Outside of work, Marcos loves to draw, write and watch movies. He also enjoys reading manga, especially when it focuses on martial arts and long journeys. Marcos also likes to watch professional wrestling. One of his favorite movies is Jurassic Park and his favorite artist is Gorillaz. Marcos’s favorite quote is by Muhammad Ali: “Don’t count the days, but make the days count.”
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Mr. Jeffrey

Billing and Collections Associate

 

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Jeffrey received a BA in Administration of Justice in 2020 from San Francisco State University. He is eager to join the JLD team because of how friendly everyone is. Jeffrey is looking forward to working alongside kids and their families in the community.
Outside of work, Jeffrey likes to be outdoors, golf, read, play board games and cards, play video games, and hang out with friends and family. He has a passion for Naruto, Pokemon, and any books written by Brandon Sanderson. He loves Star Wars!
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Ms. Marie

Virtual Marketing    Assistant

 

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Marie is a Philippines-based Virtual Marketing Assistant. She took up Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan. Prior to working as a VA, Marie went to work as a technical customer support representative and as a lecturer. She brings to our practice 9 years of experience in customer service, administration, and digital marketing. One of Upwork’s top-rated freelancers. Marie has experience working for physicians as a virtual medical biller and podcast assistant. As well as a VA for health and wellness coaches. She has a huge passion for helping others and working for children that’s why she loves it so much being a part of the JLD team. In addition to working for JLD therapy, Marie also works as a Virtual Assistant for First Support CPR and First Aid Training. A company owned by JLD Therapy. In her free time, Marie enjoys outdoor activities, watch movies spending time with her family.

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Mr. Samuel

Billing and Collections Associate

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Sam has pursued extensive coursework towards a bachelor’s degree and is proficient in conversational Spanish. His passion for fostering children’s development led him to join the Joy & Laughter Developmental Therapy team, where he finds great fulfillment in making a positive impact on young lives.


A versatile musician, Sam plays guitar, bass, and drums, immersing himself in music daily. He loves to experiment with new techniques and sounds, constantly pushing the boundaries of his musical creativity. Music is an integral part of Sam’s identity, serving as both a source of personal joy and a way to connect with others.


Family is at the heart of Sam’s world. He treasures the time spent with his kids, always on the lookout for new adventures and activities that they can enjoy together. From outdoor excursions to creative projects, Sam is dedicated to nurturing his children’s curiosity and joy.
Sam’s favorite band, The Flaming Lips, inspires him with their unique and boundary-pushing music. Their innovative approach resonates with Sam’s own creative spirit, fueling his passion for both music and life.

 

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Ms. Amy

PR & Marketing Associate

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Amy graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Redlands with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Medicine and Society with a concentration in policy and management. Amy is an individual that is deeply committed to serving her community and wants to make a difference in healthcare. She is a strong believer in communication and found herself deeply resonating with Joy & Laughter Developmental Therapy’s mission to bridge gaps in communication among staff and provide better support for parents. Her passion for working with children was also what drew her towards Joy & Laughter Developmental Therapy as she worked as a preschool teacher in the past. She also speaks Vietnamese!
 
Outside of work, Amy enjoys going to coffee shops with her friends, spending time outside in nature, and traveling whenever she can!
 

 
 
 
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Meet Our Leadership Team

Ms. Jennifer

OTR, Founder and Executive Director

 

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Jennifer received her Master’s Degree in occupational therapy from San Jose State University, after double majoring in occupational therapy and psychology for her undergraduate program. Jennifer has been working with special needs children since 2005 both as a therapist and as a respite care worker. She has experience in working with children across the developmental spectrum and from 1-22 years of age. While Autism has been her primary area of practice she also has hands-on experience in working with children with down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, Tourette’s, Dyslexia, ADD/ADHA, sensory processing disorders, mental retardation, and other developmental delays.

Outside of work Jennifer enjoys camping, hiking, cake decorating, outdoor adventures, and spending time with her family.

Languages: English, Spanish, American Sign Language (ASL)

Specialty Areas: Autism, Feeding, Swallowing, and Pediatrics Advanced Certifications: Physical Agent Modalities (PAM), Swallowing (SWC), SPD Pro 1 Certification

Certifications & Continuing Education Jennifer has participated in that are often highly sought after by clients and mentees. Handwriting Without Tears (HWT): Is a nationally recognized handwriting program that helps children gain the skills needed for both print and cursive writing. HWT draws from years of experience and research which helps provide developmentally appropriate, multi-sensory tools and strategies to help children learn the skills for handwriting. Children are taught handwriting skills using interactive materials and activities that help promote the skills needed for handwriting. Visit https://www.lwtears.com/ for more information.

Jennifer has received level 1 certification in this program.  Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Feeding Solutions: A feeding program that incorporates the principles and practices from multiple disciplines including psychology, pediatrics, occupational therapy, dietetics, and speech-language pathology. The SOS program incorporates sensory, motor, oral, behavioral, learning, medical, and nutritional factors to create a comprehensive program for each child. The SOS program has over 20 years of success for helping infants, children and adolescents learn to eat. For more information visit https://sosapproachtofeeding.com/sos-certification/.

Jennifer has taken beginning and advanced course work in this approach.SCERTS Model: The SCERTS model is a research-based multidisciplinary framework that helps to address many of the problems faced by a person with ASD. The SCERTS model aims to build a child’s skills in “Social Communication”, Emotional Regulation”, and “Transactional Support”. The SCERTS model aims to help children learn and spontaneously react in a variety of settings. To learn more visit their website.  The Son-Rise Program for Autism: The Son-Rise program teaches a specific and comprehensive system of autism treatment and education designed to help families and caregivers enable their children to dramatically improve in all areas of learning, development, communication, and skill acquisition. For more information visit https://autismtreatmentcenter.org/.

Jennifer learned this program second hand while providing intensive intervention with a child who’s family received specific training from the options institute.Zones of Regulation Curriculum: The Zones curriculum uses a cognitive-behavioral approach to teach children to become more aware of and independent in controlling their emotions and impulses, by managing their sensory needs and improve their ability to problem solve conflicts and share. For more information visit their website at http://www.zonesofregulation.com/learn-more-about-the-zones.html. Jennifer has received first-hand training on this approach by the therapist who developed the curriculum.

Integrated Listening Systems: The iLs system helps to train body/brain integration through a staged approach, starting with the fundamentals of sensory integration and extending through more complex cognitive functions. The iLs program is based on “neuroplasticity” and the fact that the neuronal connections can be improved. For more information on this program visit https://integratedlistening.com/. Jennifer has received certification in the use of iLs for home and clinic use.  

STAR Model: The STAR Institue for sensory processing disorders provides treatment, education, and research for children, adolescents and adults with SPD. The STAR Institue provides clinicians with a unique opportunity to receive ongoing education to develop advanced clinical reasoning and treatment skills for individuals with sensory processing.

VitalStim: VitalStim is the only FDA-cleared treatment for NMES (neuromuscular electrical stimulation) treatment for dysphagia. This modality is specifically designed to improve the mechanisms of the swallow. Visit https://www.ciaoseminars.com/home/vitalstim/ for more information. Jennifer is certified to provide treatment using the VitalStim+ system.”

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Ms. Kaitlyn

HR Manager

 

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Kaitlyn graduated from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor’s in Communications with a minor in Political Science in 2020.
 
During college she worked as a cooking instructor where she would teach children the basics of cooking. After graduation, Kaitlyn began working as a recruiter and was excited for the opportunity to blend her previous experiences. She is excited to join the JLD team and use her expertise to grow the company to help service more families.
 
Kaitlyn was born and raised in the Bay Area, but recently returned after living in Montana. She loves being outdoors, listening to music, watching sports, and playing with her dog!
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Ms. Elise

OTR, Feeding Specialist, and       Clinical Manager

 

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Elise earned her Master’s in Occupational Therapy from Augusta University after graduating from the University of Georgia’s Honors College with a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science with a certificate in Disability Studies. She has experience working with pediatric populations of all ages with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Developmental Delays, TBI, Cerebral Palsy, and Sensory Processing disorders.
 
Before becoming an OT in 2020, Elise discovered her passion for working with children as a swim coach and instructor, but saw a great need for creating space for those with different needs and talents. Her goal is for everyone to see the bright lights she sees within each and every child, and to encourage them to use their unique talents and abilities to reach their goals. JLD is a place that already sees that potential and seeks to connect parents, therapists and the kiddos in a way that helps those lights shine the brightest.
 
Elise recently moved to San Jose from Georgia, where she grew up. She is new to the West Coast, but very excited for all that it has to offer. In her spare time, Elise enjoys spending time outdoors with her fiancé: hiking, camping, reading, playing board games and playing with her kittens. Her adventures outdoors have inspired a hobby of photography and a collection of vintage cameras, and she can’t wait to capture the beauty of CA!
 
 
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