Autism influences cognitive, emotional, physiological, and social development. Each of these areas needs to be addressed in order to assess the whole child. Therapies and interventions are provided so that the individual child can function at their best within the home, school, and community. The Beacon Model goes beyond what the IEP (individualized education program) addresses and looks at all of the contributors to the diagnosis of autism. Identifying these will help the team to develop positive ways of influencing the child's overall condition. As one area of functioning improves, other areas will follow the path towards positive developmental growth.

Beacon Day School creates a supportive environment that enhances self-esteem, recognizes individual strengths, and identifies areas in need of support through consideration of challenges in functioning. Communication between parents, meetings, home visits, and informal meetings are utilized to enhance communication and collaboration between team members. At Beacon Day School we believe that growth and learning occurs at all times of the day and positive reinforcements should remain consistent throughout the day, both at school and at home.

Regular reports about behavior outside of school. Progression in all areas of development is dependent upon structure and consistency in the home, school, and community.

The child understood in context. This means that each area of development: Communication, social skills, motor skills, academic accomplishment, and others will be related to specific cognitive functions (memory, emotions, attention, language, visual-spatial skills, executive function, and health) to ensure that all are functioning in a way that promotes development. A main focus is on identifying areas in need of growth and support that affects the overall performance of the child. Attention to detail is important, especially when looking at specific areas of cognition.