Beacon School Creates an Inclusive Learning Environment for Students with Disabilities

Photos by Jacob Durbin.

Maya Meade

For many members of the Athens community, Beacon School has been a second home and a place of growth. It serves as the educational services division of the Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities (ACBDD). Together, Beacon School and the ACBDD provide public education for students with significant developmental disabilities ranging from ages 3 to 21.

Beacon School offers a variety of services, from traditional education to therapy.

The ACBDD has been serving the Athens community since 1957. Its vision is to have an integrated and inclusive community that follows the core values of universal respect, spending responsibly, creating thriving communities, working together and many more.

Beacon School is one of a number of divisions under the ACBDD. The school provides traditional educational instruction as well as specialized services that range from adapted physical education classes to swimming to music therapy.

“One of my favorite music experiences was when we sang 'Thriller' together, and each person had a different instrument that they got to play at different points in the song,” says Amanda Dick, a music therapist at Beacon School. “Through this experience, each student contributed meaningfully to the music making and worked on important skills such as taking turns and following directions.”

Those specialized programs accommodate students with a variety of developmental disabilities and allow them to strengthen the skills needed in their academic and professional successes.

Beacon School and the ACBDD use an Individualized Transition Plan that begins at the age of 14 and is designed for students to learn skills needed to live, work and make an impact in their communities after they graduate. Beacon School focuses on academics, socialization, daily living tasks and fine/gross motor skills. The Individualized Transition Plan combined with the Beacon School programming prepares students for communicating with peers or employers, getting involved in the Athens community and leading independent lives.

Students in the young adult classroom practice skills for independence, such as how to interact with others, manage money and perform household tasks.

In addition to everything that Beacon School does for its students inside of its walls, it also hosts activities outside of school. During the school year, Beacon School hosts events such as seasonal concerts, field trips, an annual water day and other activities that are often seen in a “traditional” school. The school also hosts community events which often serve as fundraisers. Some of the largest contributions were made in 2019 during January and December.

“Polar Bear Plunge,” an event where community members jump into cold water for a charitable cause, raised over $8,000 for Beacon students, and “Breakfast with Santa,” where people enjoy a holiday themed breakfast, raised about $3,000 for the Beacon School PTA.

For Kevin Davis, superintendent of the ACBDD, Beacon School is “one of the most positive, compassionate and innovative places to work.” He gives credit to the hardworking staff members who put their hearts into their work and acknowledge the students that exceed expectations on a daily basis. Davis says that Beacon School does everything they can to provide their students opportunities that would otherwise be difficult for them to have.

“Our goal is to challenge them and prepare them for their life after Beacon,” he says.

Beacon School is much more than a school for both students and staff. It provides a safe space for students to learn and gain experience from opportunities they would not be getting elsewhere.