Marina De Leon is a seasoned bilingual Occupational Therapy Assistant with a passion for serving military families. A native of the Rio Grande Valley, she graduated from South Texas College in 2011 with an AAS-Occupational Therapy Assistant after she was inspired by a student with a visual impairment whom she worked with in special education and an opportunity to meet and volunteer with Eric Westover, former goaltender of the U.S. National Amputee Soccer Team. She served as a liaison/course proctor for the Texas Occupational Therapy Association. As a clinician, she mentored prospective OTA students and was a fieldwork educator for three Level II A OTA students. She has since gained extensive experience in neurological and pediatric care in both home health and outpatient settings, taking more than the required continuing education out of genuine interest in providing the most ethical and effective, research-backed treatment and training to her clients and their caregivers and as influenced by her professors’ standards to be a lifelong learner.
Marina’s career also consists of working as a lead sensory coach in local charter schools, contracting with The Shine Network and presenting on behalf of the organization to families of children with autism in Ft. Worth and San Antonio. She has been able to collaborate with special education teachers and occupational, speech, and behavior therapists to facilitate self-regulation, greater independence, and engagement in the classroom.
Marina is deeply committed to supporting the veteran community, and she has previous volunteer experience with Endeavors. Marina maintains certifications from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), children’s yoga, ergo yoga, and also in nutrition through the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. She is passionate about mental and physical wellness, community, safety, and advocacy for our veterans. Marina’s interests include hiking with her family, yoga, reading, taking road trips to West Texas and through the Hill Country, serving on her middle schooler’s PTA board, and she has self-published two children’s yoga books. She is currently pursuing mindfulness training, MBSR, to further enhance her holistic approach to therapy.
Marina resides in San Antonio with her husband, now a CMSgt in the U.S. Air Force Reserve with the 433rd Security Forces Squadron out of Lackland AFB. They have three adult children, a teenager, and one grandchild. She looks forward to contributing to the mission of Bastion Community of Resilience and improving the quality of life of its members with the expansion to Military City, USA.
Chris Viveiros serves as Program Assistant at Headway’s San Antonio expansion site, bringing a wealth of experience in life coaching, mental health, and substance recovery. Specializing in supporting men through life’s transitions, Chris is dedicated to helping individuals thrive with compassion and practical guidance.