Ms. Amy Finkel
Under the auspices of the Atlanta School of Gymnastics and DeKalb County Schools Special Olympic program, Amy has been working with special needs children for almost three decades. Gymnastics activities serve to strengthen, engage, stimulate, activate, and energize the brain and the bodily systems necessary for attention, performance, and communication within the body and outwards to the surrounding world.
Session activities are tailored to each child’s particular needs and may include a variety of movements such as rebounding, swinging, rolling, hanging, jumping, running, stretching, spinning, climbing, and inversions. In short, any and all sorts of beneficial movements are incorporated to ensure a comprehensive and enriching experience for every child.
There is a plethora of evidence that these activities improve not only fitness but also behavior, communication, and cognition.
Gymnastics for Every Body
For all abilities & disabilities
Gymnastics provides the foundation and imperative development for fitness and movement for life and learning.
Instruction by Ms. Amy
Ms. Amy is known and loved for her patience, creativity, and ability to reach most every child. She possesses over 25 years of experience with a multitude of typical and special needs children. As an Internationally Certified Special Olympics Coach, a USAGF Kinder Accredited Teacher, and a Hero for Autism, she also holds certifications as a children's yoga teacher. Additionally, Ms. Amy is a founding member of Movement Matters, Int'l, having been invited by USAG and recognized by former Olympians Bart Connor and Nadia Comaneci.
Her academic background includes degrees in Neuropsychology and French from Emory University in conjunction with NYU in France. This combination of experience and education allows her to create a supportive environment that fosters growth and development in all children.
Private Lessons: $50 Annual Registration Fee
Booking Fee for Each Lesson: $20 non-refundable booking fee and payable at time of booking
One Hour Private Lesson with Ms. Amy is payable at the end of the Lesson: Contact Ms Amy directly for her Rates and to Schedule the Lesson.
Note: Registration Form and Registration Fee must be completed and paid prior to a Private Lesson.
Testimonials
Amy is an answer to a prayer for us. We feel incredibly lucky to not only have found someone to work with our Autistic little boy, but to see him grow, and learn from her is priceless. She truly cares for all the children she teaches. We drive 45 mins to work with her- I would drive 4 hours if I had to. Thank you, Amy, for being such a bright light in the lives of so many special children. ~ Kathryn
My daughter has been seeing Ms. Amy for private lessons for over 6 years. My daughter is autistic and struggles with executive function and gross motor movements. Ms. Amy can challenge my daughter to move her body in ways no one else does. She has helped my daughter gain confidence in herself. She just KNOWS how to connect with special needs kids. Ms. Amy is a GEM and we are so grateful that she is a part of our village. ~ Sonya
We are incredibly grateful for the exceptional one-on-one care and dedication Ms. Amy has shown to our daughter, Allie, at the Atlanta School of Gymnastics. Allie began working with Ms. Amy when she was just 3 years old, and the positive impact on her progress and overall well-being has been truly remarkable.
Ms. Amy's kindness, passion, and unwavering patience have made her an invaluable part of Allie's journey. Children with special needs face many challenges, and Ms. Amy has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to address these challenges with grace and understanding. Her dedication to Allie's growth and development has been evident from day one.
One of the most significant achievements we have witnessed is the accelerated progress Allie has made towards her physical therapy goals since starting with Ms. Amy. The tailored support and guidance provided by Ms. Amy have complemented Allie's therapy sessions, resulting in noticeable improvements and milestones reached more quickly than we could have imagined.
Beyond her professional skills, Ms. Amy has built a strong and trusting relationship with Allie. Our daughter looks forward to each session with enthusiasm and excitement, a testament to the genuine bond they share. Ms. Amy's ability to create a positive and encouraging environment has made a world of difference in Allie's experience and overall happiness.
We wholeheartedly recommend Ms. Amy to any parent seeking a dedicated and compassionate professional for their child's gymnastics training and development. Her expertise and heartfelt commitment have made an enduring impact on our family, and we are forever grateful for the positive influence she has had on Allie's life.~ Crystal
Ms. Amy is the best! She is remarkably patient, and she customizes her lessons to the abilities and goals of each child. Our son loves her, and we are so grateful for everything she has helped him accomplish! ~ Jeb
Ms. Amy is a gift! She provides affirming support while at the same time gently pushes towards a goal. Our child significantly increased in core strength, balance, and confidence. This translated to being able to play more freely on the playground with peers. Ms. Amy was always kind and helped our child grow in self esteem. My child still talks about her lessons with Ms. Amy." ~ Anonymous
Our daughter trained with Ms. Amy from ages 8-11. She is high functioning neurodivergent and had a desire to learn how to tumble, but was only able to do simple things like hops and a beginner cartwheel. Ms. Amy was very patient, understanding and even therapeutic with her during our sessions. Our daughter progressed from basic skills to now being able to do multiple higher-level stunts, such as round off double back handsprings and is now working on back tucks and aerials. We have transitioned to the journey of cheerleading now, but during our time with gymnastics, I couldn't recommend a better, more caring and more experienced coach than Ms. Amy. Please take a chance to experience this for yourself and enjoy the wonderful opportunity of working with a jewel like her! ~ Erica