Betsy Chandler was one of the recipient of the 2011 WLKY Bell Awards, and was honored at a banquet on Sept. 23.
Chandler saw a need the help children with developmental disabilities, primarily autism, and devoted her efforts to open St. Andrews Academy. She researched governmental regulations, recruited a principal and administrative staff, coordinated the design of the school space, held fundraisers and wrote grants.
In the late 70’s, she was instrumental in bringing to Louisville the Washington-based program, “The Kids on the Block,” a puppet program that taught the mainstreaming of kids with disabilities in public schools. She’s also served with the Junior League, Kentucky Youth Advocates and Easter Seals.
The Bell Awards program was shown on WLKY TV on October 15.