Chileda Founder Retires
April 2005

After 32 years as President/CEO and founder, Don Heidel has retired from Chileda. In 1973 Heidel, with Rayma Ditson-Sommer and Rolf Sommer, founded Chileda in Stevens Point and in 1977 the program moved to La Crosse. Chileda is a residential and day school for children and young adults with autism spectrum disorders and other low incidence developmental disabilities.

Many folks throughout the years will recall Don as saying “Chileda began with four kids, one staff member, one typewriter and lots of ideas.” He would also be the first to say that he has been surrounded by strength, which made all of us a part of a very unique team.

Heidel was instrumental in charting a course to meet the unmet needs of children. Chileda’s emphasis has always been to fill gaps in the human service delivery system by directing Chileda through tough financial situations in the 1980s, gaining national accreditation continuously since 1995, and opening the door to serve children with autism and challenging behaviors.


The Chileda Board accepted Heidel’s retirement request at a special meeting April 15 and will be naming a successor in the near future.