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ABOUT US

We are more than a school. We are a community.

BDS Teachers + Students Parachut Game 2
BDS Students Working at Desk
Samantha
May
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Now offering virtual or in-person campus tours

BDS Teacher + Students Front of School

About Beacon Day School

Beacon Day School (BDS) is a California non-public school for children with autism and related disorders, serving school districts, families, and students from across Southern California and the Inland Empire. With campuses in La Palma and Riverside, California, BDS is fully accredited by the California Department of Education. The school was founded in 2004 by Dr. Mary Jo Lang, a clinical psychologist and fellow autism parent. Dr. Lang recognized the unique and diverse academic, social, emotional, and physical needs of the autism population and aimed to create a safe, compassionate, nurturing school community dedicated to improving the lives of students and their families. 

We're Here For You!

We are never too busy to meet with our families and our staff regularly communicates student progress through daily logs, emails, phone calls, or informal meetings.

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Integrated Educational Care

We embrace Integrated Educational Care because it is both an evidence-based model of teaching children with autism and related disorders as well as the perfect words for describing the Beacon Day School academic philosophy.

Integration & Partnership

It starts with building a strong partnership with parents and guardians. Research and our own experience tell us when there’s strong alignment between educators and families, students are more likely to succeed. When school, home and the community all become the “real world” students better integrate learning into their daily lives.

Learning Fractions with Pancakes

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Educational Experiences

At Beacon Day School no subject is a silo, every lesson is an opportunity to learn and build independent living and social skills. At BDS students learn through experience. Learning how to make pancakes isn’t just about how to flip a pancake. It's how students learn numbers, fractions, math, science, communication, cooperation, self-advocacy, fine motor skills and more!

Care & Commitment

The faculty and staff at BDS truly care about the safety, dignity and quality-of-life of our students and their families. It is that caring and commitment that create the progress and breakthroughs that allow students to meet their IEP goals and lead more independent lives.

BDS Educational Care Team
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BEACON DAY
TEACHER

BDS BCBA Behavior Interventionist
BDS Family
BDS Instructional Therapist
BDS Teacher
BDS School District Representative

SCHOOL
DISTRICT

BCBA &
BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONIST

DESIGNATED INSTRUCTIONAL THERAPISTS

FAMILY

Beacon's Educational Care Team

BEACON DAY TEACHER

 

The teacher is the team leader insuring the family and the BDS team are aligned  in helping the student meet their IEP goals.

BCBA & BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONIST

 

Focus on helping students meet their IEP goals by teaching adaptive skills that replace interfering behaviors.

SCHOOL DISTRICT

 

The school district is an integral part of the team helping to establish and monitor progress towards IEP goals.

FAMILY

 

The family is a partner in the IEP team working with Beacon and the District to provide opportunities for improving the student's and the family's quality of life.

DESIGNATED INSTRUCTIONAL THERAPISTS

 

Licensed OT, PT  & Speech therapists  develop and implement individualized treatment plans to foster student success.

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