My 9 year old son just started his 3rd year at this wonderful school, and it has been amazing for…read moreus! They really understand him, and his social-emotional issues. The small class size allows for very individualized attention. He is (like many of the students) an uneven learner. He reads and does math way above grade level, but needs help with writing and expressive language (but some children have more typical learning difficulties). Each family is assigned a social worker to meet with on a regular basis, and the social workers also go into the classrooms to work on social skills through "friendship" and "games" groups. There is a "black & white" notebook that goes back and forth every day, providing a means of valuable communication between the teachers and parents. He has met some great friends here, and there is a warm parent community. We can speak freely with each other about our children's "issues" - we're all in this together! So happy we found this little gem of a school! P.S. The Parents' Association hosts a wonderful lecture series on a variety of topics, mostly concerning special needs children.

From the owner: West End Day School is a small, nurturing, specialized school for children who may not be well…read moreserved by the conventional system. We offer a social and emotional perspective to learning while maintaining a challenging mainstream curriculum. Our teachers work hand-in-hand with social workers and other specialists to respond as a team to all aspects of a child's development. Children flourish here. Our school is a place where our youngsters can form successful bonds that perhaps did not develop in other school settings. Every day, they are given the tools and techniques they need to feel safe, to succeed, and to feel a sense of achievement. And they have fun learning and forming positive relationships, often for the first time.

As a social worker of many years I have found these webinars extremely informative and well…read moredone. The format and presentation are relevant , current and well organized ( and usually very lively). Resources are always shared and the presenters are extremely knowledgeable . I am so pleased to receive invitations via my email and the registration is user friendly !

Based on our family's experience, I would urge parents to do extensive research before enrolling…read moretheir child at Academics West. We found the school to be defensive when concerns were raised and lacking in transparency about its practices and classroom environment. Tuition is extremely expensive, and families should carefully review the financial policies, as refunds may be limited or unavailable. One of the most upsetting aspects of my child's experience was hearing students screaming while they were being locked in what the school referred to as anger-management or de-escalation rooms. This created an environment that our kiddo found frightening and emotionally distressing. Ultimately, it was not the supportive setting we had expected for a student with learning differences.

I bought a Living Social deal for an introductory voice over lesson with AP Voices. After reading…read moreJohn F.'s review, I was regretting my purchase. However, I was more than pleasantly surprised by AP Voices - they provided a wonderful experience. They were timely with scheduling my class and the class itself was kept small (approx 8 people). The leaders, Frank and Ellie were charming and knowledgeable. Each person in the class got to record a demo and was given improvement tips by Ellie and Frank. The next day, they sent me an email with my demo sample and information on voice over lessons & demo packages. The packages are a bit pricey but I might consider taking them up on their offer. It's a fun time!

AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!! These guys are thieves and liars. They run deals on Living Social and then…read morethey don't honor them. You call and leave messages in June and July, and you get no reply. You send an e-mail in July, and no reply is sent. You send a 2nd e-mail in October, and you get a reply from the Frank, "the president of Audio Paint, Ltd" that they'll get back to you. It's now January, and no e-mail and no phone call.

Wow, so thrilled Mike opened up in the Upper West Side. He is truly the best special needs sports…read moreinstructor you can find in NYC. I almost don't want to share such a review so classes don't get too filled up. Mike is hands on and has a 2-3 other instructors in each class. It's about a 1:1 ratio so my child has plenty of support. Run to this class before it is overbooked!

If you're a parent of a special needs child or young adult, seriously consider working with Mike…read moreand his team! My 18 year old started individual sessions with them a few months ago, going twice a week. These sessions are a bright spot in his week, he looks forward to exercise (and who among us always looks forward to exercise?), and he ends sessions in a good mood. He has FUN. Also, they're dedicated to the special needs community, and have groups and other opportunities to have social interaction and form a greater sense of community. Their new gym space is great. AND they accept self direction funds.

This is a department of Columbia dedicated to Russian, Eurasian and eastern european studies. I've…read morebeen there for a whole number of occasions, from receptions, screenings and exhibitions to press conferences with famous journalists and politicians from Russia. Columbia is a tremendous free resource in the city and not just for its students - you have to take advantage.