Imagine Early Learning Centers @ The Lehman College Child Care Center 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, The Bronx, NY 10468

"I don't usually write reviews, but if I do, it's either for an exceptional experience or an exceptionally awful experience. Unfortunately, this childcare center falls into the latter category. My expectations for the center were already low due to previous reviews, but it still managed to fall short of what I would've ever thought. Not only do they lack inclusivity for special needs children, but they're also experts at gaslighting parents and using every possible technique to force them to take their children out of the center, making it seem like it's their own decision. Teachers, for the most part, are great, but they lack support from the administrators. If possible, please avoid this center, especially if you have special needs children. However, if you can't avoid it and have a special needs child, here are some tips to navigate your time and your child's time there as smoothly as possible: - Have your child evaluated, get their therapies approved, and therapists ready to start before the school year/semester starts. - Do not let the school know about your child's disability/learning issue before the registration and contract are signed and finalized. They might attempt to deny registration specifically for the toddler classroom. - Keep a written trail of everything that happens regarding your child's experience there. Write every detail and concern in an email and send it to every person who plays an important part in your child's education, including administrators of the center. They have a tendency to ask for one-on-one meetings with parents of special needs kids and try to avoid using emails when discussing their concerns, especially when their main concern is trying to kick your child out of the center. They can even deny registration for future semesters (for the toddler classroom), but will quickly chicken out once you ask for written documentation of their reasons. - Don't be afraid to report them to the DOE as well as Lehman College higher administrative instances. I believe that the reason why this center has been getting away with doing this for so long is that most of the children there are the children of Lehman College students (like me), and most just want to get their degree and leave their awful experience with this center behind. Being located at Lehman College, the only senior public university in the Bronx, this center brings shame to the mission and values of the institution. Do better!"

"This is place is awful I called many times to find out if there’s a spot for my daughter. Even left voicemail they didn’t even bother to call back. Just shows how responsible they are."

"My 2 year old loves it here. Finishing up the first school year; so far, so good. I feel super lucky to have found this facility."

"I am so disgusted with this center. I am a student at Lehman and when I toured I explicitly said that my child was autistic. She also does not nap. I was told they accept children with different needs. After three days the complaints of her not napping were rolling in. I am sorry she interrupts your "free time". I was told they would "keep her busy" with a story or games they obviously did not want to "waste time" doing that. I observed my child from a two way window each day. She did amazing! I was so proud. She was receiving Early Intervention services which meant the providers would come to the center and provide the therapies. I was also disgusted at the attitudes from the other parents. There was another child on the spectrum who's needs were much more evident than my child's. The comments of "why is he here?" were despicable. This center needs to be more inclusive and mindful of special needs children. Lehman has an early childhood education program that prides itself in training future teachers to serve the special needs population. I was further awestruck when I learned that the lead teacher graduated from Lehman with a Special Education degree. I can't believe my daughter has faced discrimination at the tender age of two. Update: My daughter is in an integrated classroom now. The classroom consists of 6 special needs children and 6 typical children. She is thriving! This is what inclusiveness looks like. Shame on all of you!"

"After offering my twins a seat in their preschool they withdrew the offer because they don't accommodate children like mine ( with autism). WOW, what a disappointment in a school that prides themselves in early childhood education."