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P R O C L A M A T I O N
Proclaiming April 24, 2007
"Geri Chestor Day"
In the City of Lakewood
WHEREAS, Geri and her family have lived in Lakewood for more then 30 years; and
WHEREAS, in the mid 60's their son, Richard, was diagnosed as an Autistic child and at the time no one could offer them hope of treatment or education; and
WHEREAS, Geri Chestor was determined to do something not only for her son but for other families in like circumstances. She contacted Dr. Bernard Rimland, PhD who had founded the Autism Society of America in 1965. Through newspaper ads she sought out other families in Colorado with Autistic children and in 1970 she founded the Autism Society of Colorado. After founding the Colorado Chapter she served as regional director of the Autism Society of America for ten years, this included the five State Rocky Mountain Region; and
WHEREAS, Geri mounted a newspaper campaign to get the attention of then, Governor John Love, who received numerous phone calls and letters from families with Autistic children. He subsequently chartered a task force to research the needs of Autistic children in Colorado and asked Geri to serve on this Task Force. As a result of their work, educational programs for Autistic and other disabled children in Colorado were started; and
WHEREAS, she has testified before the State Legislature and before the Congress of the United States advocating for the needs of Autistic children and adults and helping them to gain acceptance and respect; and
WHEREAS, she helped found the Colorado Council of Organizations for the handicapped, served on the State Special Education Advisory Committee and was on the Board of Directors for the Legal Center for the Handicapped; and
WHEREAS, realizing that as children with Autism and other mental challenges get older and became adults, they would need special assistance to help them become productive members of society, she founded the Chestor House in 1982, a group home for people with Autism based on the theory of "Gentle Teaching". Chestor House continues to operate as an out-of-home placement and vocational support agency. She has served on the Board for Chestor House from 1982 to the present.
BE IT THEREFORE resolved that in recognition of her many years of hard work, loving and dedicated support to the families of those with Autistic children and other disabilities, I Steve Burkholder, Mayor of the City of Lakewood, do hereby proclaim, April 24th as "Geri Chestor" day in the City of Lakewood.
Given under my hand and seal of the City of Lakewood, this 23rd day of April 2007, A.D.
Stephen A. Burkholder, Mayor
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