If anyone needs a good advocate Judy Ruffalo is the one to call. She went above and beyond my…read moreexpectations to advocate for my Autistic daughter. She is very informative and knowledgable in her job and if she does not know the answer she will find out and get you the answers. She is not afraid to stand up for your child and will not take no for an answer if its not in the best interest of your child. Shes a fighter and sweetheart all rolled into one and will stop at nothing to get the best placement for your child.

From the owner: Comprehensive educational records review, special education eligibility, IEP analysis and…read morerecommendations, empowering parents to advocate for their children, school meeting attendance, expert negotiation and mediation for improved outcomes for students.

I love the work they do with the children. Over time you see a difference in their behavior,…read moreconfidence and significant growth. When it comes to the children they will go above and beyond to help the children achieve their best.

My son went to this til he transitioned back to his high school. He blossomed there and really…read moreenjoyed the inclusiveness and respect. They are all remarkable and I highly recommend sending your child there. My son spent 4 years at GLA.

ETA...what a great investment in yourself. I've spent a lot of money on experiences I don't…read moreremember, but the money I spent on choosing this training is money I'll never forget. The discovery of my blind spots and how they've affected me over the years was one of the many discoveries I made while participating in this training. Emotional intelligence training is a powerful tool to clear the path to the future you desire, because it teaches you to DESIGN it based on YOU rather than on some formula. I also love the fact that this company is genuinely concerned with the PEOPLE it trains rather than merely looking at it's participants as merely just another number. Make no mistake, it's challenging, but hey, what of value isn't? Like I said, it's an investment in you...aren't you worth it?

Elevate Training Academy changed my life. I am a graduate of all three levels…read more The training showed me all of the areas in my life that I was blind to that had been blocking me from healthy relationships, trusting myself, creating financial abundance and overall success. The sense of love and connectedness I felt in this group has been unlike anything I'd ever experienced before. There is genuine trust and camaraderie and a safe space to be vulnerable and share openly. ETA is an incredible life changing experience. If you're ready to make a shift and step into the life of your dreams, I couldn't recommend this training enough.

Most kids respond to the traditional parenting methods -- discipline, motivators, natural…read moreconsequences, blah blah blah. But some don't. So you visit therapists, psychiatrists, parenting coaches, blah blah blah. Nothing helps. You feel like shit for being such a failure as a parent, and life becomes pretty miserable. Anyone else been there? We went through the wringer with our older child (now 18 and beyond much help) but when we saw our younger child starting to go the same way (lying, stealing, disrespect, etc.) we were ready to try something different. Thank goodness we found Jim Kling. He is really different. For one thing, he comes to your house. He talks to the parents, not the child. He works from the outside in (the kid's environment) not the inside out (how the child feels). He walks you slowly, patiently, through his program that is so simple yet so foreign to us that the two of us (each with a master's degree) had to really work to bend our minds around it. Jim is entirely available by phone or email between sessions to walk you through specific situations or just clarify the rules. It's not cheap, but it works. It's worth every penny. Send me a PM if you have any questions.

Ric Shanks and the Alternative Teaching program helped our family beyond measure. We tried…read moreeverything- parent coaching and counseling, medication and various therapies for our ADHD child, every book on oppositional and ADHD kids ever printed- nothing improved our home life very much or for very long. A counselor recommended Alternative Teaching to us, and it changed our lives for the better, and "better" is an understatement. The system taught us as parents how to take back control over what we will and will not tolerate without getting emotional or resentful. And it empowers our kids with a sense of choice over how to behave and what the consequences of those choices are. Ric has been 100% supportive and available any time we call, following up and working with us long after we had completed the program. There are no miracles out there- we still have to work at keeping our family functional. But Alternative Teaching is the only way that we have achieved results for our efforts. I second the prior reviewer who said that it was expensive but WORTH EVERY PENNY! We are so grateful.

I can't say enough good things about Helping Hands Preschool. The teachers are experienced experts…read morein the area of child development, and are supported by a robust staff of specialists that provide added instruction in fine motor skills, speech, and social-emotional development. The curriculum is top of the line, and because it is a District 109 school, the students are able to be directly prepared for the expectations of kindergarten using the same learning standards. At Helping Hands you get all the benefits of being part of the District, such as teacher communication tools, parenting resources and workshops, and more. Definitely the best choice in the area for preschool!

From the owner: District 109 Early Learners, Deerfield's premier preschool, serves a blend of typically developing…read morepreschoolers and preschoolers with special needs. The focus of Early Learners is to prepare children to succeed in the District 109 kindergarten curriculum by offering instructional support and activities in pre-academic, social-emotional, motor and language development.

I have found my nonverbal special needs child potential through spell to communicate program…read moreoffered at "found my voice". My child's cognitive ability was under estimated prior to this. Through this program I feel confident and hopeful about my child's future. Paulette is an amazing tutor. she has treated my child with respect and shown patience towards her challenging behaviors. She seems to be dedicated to help nonverbal kids get their voice. I highly recommend "found my voice" services to others.

From the owner: Found My Voice, Inc is dedicated to helping those with disabilities through a variety of…read moreprogramming. Spelling to Communicate (S2C) for Nonspeakers, Unreliable speakers or echoic speakers, tutoring, special events, social activities, birthday parties, advocacy and more. We are currently located in Joliet behind the Target and Barnes & Noble off Rt 30 on Division Street. Conveniently located close to I-55, a short drive to I-355 and I-80. Special event: Spellers Movie May 10th in Oswego, IL at classic cinemas

My son attended the Transition program at GS and he did well. The staff were pretty great and did…read moretheir best to help him. They truly do care about the students they serve and we are very grateful for that.

I'd like to say that working at Giant Steps has been absolutely outstanding. The teachers there are…read morethe epitome of professional, as well as possessing an innate and frequently used sense of care and consideration for their students. I've been working there for four months, and could not be more impressed with their conduct and empathy. Their passion for their work shows in their attitude and actions, as well as the laughs and smiles that surround them in the classroom. My compliments to all of them, including the staff that have to oversee all of the classroom.

I have always been impressed with Athletico professionals. But Margarite (Maggie) Moraw is…read moreexceptional. I did not know what a future with arthritis holds for me. But I could not have chosen a better therapist -- smart, resourceful, honest, cheerful, encouraging. I feel very lucky. Dan Doyle

I had a very good experience here. I like how they really got to know me and my issues and then…read moredevised customized exercises and advice. They gave me a work from home plan and also emailed me instructional videos and the exercises to do at home, which were very helpful. Katie, in particular, was excellent, but all of the staff there were very kind and professional. The issues in my arm improved a lot.