SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Being able to succeed in school can be the most daunting of challenges our students face. Actually, just about every moment of every day is a challenge for them.

Day School

The children attending Beacon Therapeutic’s Day School are unable to be served in their local schools. This is because their emotional, behavioral, or learning needs exceed their local school’s capacity. Beacon’s students need specialized support to learn to grow – be it for one, five, or eight years of their school life.

Beacon’s private day school services and special education for emotionally disturbed children and adolescents is it flagship program. Operating since 1968, the full-day, year-round school program provides the following services to students from 3 to 21 years old:  special education services, needs assessments, counseling services, social work services, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, psychiatric and psychological services, nursing services, learning disabilities identification and remediation.

Elementary School

Children want to learn to write, to read, to get along with friends. They want to learn how to have fun in socially appropriate ways. But some children must overcome great obstacles before they can focus on school work and just being a kid. Beacon's individualized programs, one-on-one teaching, creative academic activities, and compassionate, highly trained staff create a climate in which children can thrive socially and academically.

Beacon is proud of its young authors and the language arts skills they mastered through the project. Their teacher, Mary Beth Challman (seated in photo) says, "I bring my dog Dylan to school twice a year. Few of my students have pets."

Eight-year-olds Breyuanna, John, and Marcus, and ten-year-old Beverly wrote and illustrated a book about Dylan,'s day at school (He's Ms. Challman's mischievous beagle). The publishing of the book used research based on "Question-Answer Relationship" concept. It developed the authors' writing skills utilizing text-to-self, text-to-text and text-to-world techniques.

"Our school garden at Longwood was created through the efforts of Ms. Fulton and Ms. Saowalak. They continue to tend and cultivate the garden throughout the year along with our 'green thumb' students."

High School

Beacon gives students more than a diploma as they leave the campus for the last time. Teachers and counselors make sure each student has goals and the means to achieve them. Some go on to college, some to vocational school, and some begin their working lives. They are more than high school graduates, they are good citizens prepared to give back to their neighborhoods.

Donnell has been attending Beacon's high school for more than a year. His grades have improved, his self-confidence has increased, and, thanks to his teacher Abigail Larrison, Ph.D., he discovered a talent for music. He has been accepted by Truman College and Beacon helped him apply for the financial aid he needs.

"I want to study criminal justice and be a detective in my neighborhood," he said. "I understand the problems there. Once, I was one of the problems."

Autism Program

Beacon has expanded its services to students on the autism spectrum by creating a new program dedicated to their unique needs. This new program is now serving elementary students at the Longwood Campus and High School students at the Calumet Park Campus.

Classrooms are based on The TEACCH model and led by a Structured Teaching Trainer. Structured teaching is an evidence-based model for individuals of all skill levels with autism spectrum disorders. TEACCH, developed by Dr. Eric Schopler at the University of North Carolina in the 1970s, provides “structured teaching” and necessary related services. Classrooms provide separate, defined areas for each task, such as individual work, play, and group activities.

Structured teaching heavily relies on visual learning, strength for many students on the autism spectrum. This structure provides significant support for the challenges of transitioning from one task or location to another. Educational tasks and visual schedules are tailored for each student’s individual needs and functioning levels.

Beacon’s program for students with autism is based in cutting edge research on effective instruction.

The Autism Program at Beacon has been approved as a separate school program by the Illinois State Board of Education with a separate daily tuition rate.