Services and Supports for People with Developmental Disabilities and their Families

For more than 30 years, the Waisman Center has provided comprehensive services and supports to people with disabilities and their families. Currently the Waisman Center provides clinical care through seven specialty clinics that are operated in collaboration with UW Hospital and Clinics and several UW-Madison Departments.

Professionals from many disciplines at the University of Wisconsin-Madison work together in Waisman Center clinics, combining knowledge in the following areas: audiology, biochemical and clinical genetics, nursing, nutrition, occupational therapy, orthopedics, pediatrics, pediatric neurology, pediatric rehabilitation, physical therapy, psychology, social work, and speech and language. On a visit to the Waisman Center, clients will most likely be seen by professionals representing a number of these areas.

Many health concerns bring people to the Waisman Center from throughout Wisconsin, as well as neighboring states and other parts of the country. A child may be "at risk" for a developmental problem; a person may evidence a mild, moderate, or severe developmental disability; or a child with a developmental disability may face compounded difficulties in a family with multiple problems. Most services focus on the needs of children with developmental disabilities from birth to age 21.

The primary clinical services provided at the Waisman Center include:

• screening or evaluation
• diagnosis
• treatment or intervention
• follow-up assistance or support
• information and referral

THE CLINICS

Biochemical Genetics Clinic
(608) 263-5993
Director: Jon Wolff, M.D.
Coordinator: Sandy van Calcar, RD, MS

The Biochemical Genetics Clinic serves people who have suspected or known hereditary metabolic disease, especially aminoacidopathies (such as phenylketonuria or PKU), organic acidemias, and defects of fatty acid metabolism. Professionals in pediatrics, nutrition, genetic counseling, and nursing provide initial diagnostic/confirmatory services and longitudinal care. Follow-through is also provided to clients who require careful nutritional supervision. The clinic staff works closely with the Wisconsin Newborn Screening Program as well as staff from other disciplines in the Clinical Services Unit of the Waisman Center and UW Hospital and clinics.

Cerebral Palsy Clinic
(608) 263-7335
Directors: Ken Noonan, MD-Pediatric Orthopedics
Tina Iyama, MD-Developmental Pediatrics
Michael Ward, MD-Pediatric Rehabilitation
Coordinator: Traci Hpughton, RN

Children who have cerebral palsy or other neurodevelopmental problems receive continuity of care in this clinic. They receive comprehensive evaluation, long-term treatment, follow-along care and reevaluation by the core interdisciplinary staff along with orthopedists and other medical specialists. Strong relationships with the families of clients and linkages with other community service agencies are in place. Since the majority of clients have multiple handicaps, their needs are complex and require a high degree of coordination between groups to insure that services meet commonly recognized and agreed-upon goals.

Child Development Clinic
(608) 262-7171 (new appointments)
(608) 263-2847 (other questions)
Director: Tina Iyama, MD
Nurse: Traci Houghton, RN

The Child Development Clinic provides developmental pediatric assessment of young children who have developmental delays and assists parents with questions they may have related to their children. Many of the children seen in this clinic are referred for concerns about possible autistic spectrum disorders. Follow-up appointments are sometimes needed to assess a child's progress over time.



Communications Aids & Systems Clinic (CASC)
(608) 263-2522 (new appointments)
Director: Julie Gamradt,MS, CCC-SLP
Prog. Asst.: Deanna Brocker

CASC provides augmentative alternative communication and computer access services. Using assistive technology, the staff (speech language pathologists and occupational therapists with specialized training) provide consumer-centered services to help people with disabilities and neurodegenerative diseases develop written, spoken, or computer-based communication skills needed to reach their full potential. Interdisciplinary services include: direct outcome-focused evaluation and intervention, consultation, technical support, student training, and outreach.
The Communications Aids & Systems clinic is an affiliate of
the Trace Research and Development Center of the UW-Madison.

Developmental Disabilities Clinic
(608) 263-5815
Director: Lewis A. Leavitt, MD
Coordinator: Lynn Levin, MSSW

The Developmental Disabilities Clinic offers specialized diagnostic and assessment services to persons who have, or are suspected of having, developmental problems. This includes such concerns as developmental delays, need for educational programming, challenging behaviors, or disorders of communication, motor, or social-emotional development. Assessments are provided by specialists who work closely together to provide comprehensive and integrated evaluations. Family members and community personnel have an important role on this team; their input, questions, and opinions are indispensable. As a part of each evaluation, family members and staff meet together to review findings and formulate recommendations.

Early Autism and Communication Research Clinic (EACRC)
(608) 263-3123
Directors: Susan Ellis Weismer, PhD
Morton Ann Gernsbacher, PhD

This clinic provides developmental, communication, and diagnostic evaluation services to children between ages 2 and 3 years old who have been diagnosed or are suspected to be on the autism spectrum and who participate in the Toddler Talk Project, a federally-funded longitudinal study of early communication skills in children on the autism spectrum. Specialists in autism and speech-language disorders provide evaluations to families, as well as information on diagnosis (when appropriate) and speech and language development. Families work closely with the psychologist and speechlanguage pathologists during the evaluation, and families and staff meet together after the evaluation to review findings. Families are given information on community resources that may be available to them to access needed services for their child.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Clinic (FASD)
(608) 262-6590
Medical Director: David Wargowski, MD
Clinic Coordinator: Patti Cameron

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Clinic meets one Tuesday a month to provide interdisciplinary diagnostic assessments for children who have documented prenatal exposure to alcohol. The clinic grew out of the collaborative efforts of UW–Madison fetal alcohol researchers and clinicians interested in serving and supporting the population. The evaluation team is composed of a medical geneticist, a nutritionist, a developmental psychologist, an audiologist, a speech and language parthologist along with support staff. The FASD works closely with the Wisconsin Family Empowerment Network (FEN) for ongoing follow-up and support of families.

Genetics Clinic
(608) 262-2507
Director: David Wargowski, MD

The genetics staff, consisting of physicians and genetic counselors, provides services to persons who have genetic disorders or birth defects, and to their families. Services include a General Genetics Clinic, which functions principally in diagnosing the cause of complex processes, as well as several specialty clinics and special programs. Specialty clinics include the Bone Dysplasia Clinic (disorders of bone growth), Sensory Deficits Clinic (deafness and blindness), and the Cancer Genetics Counseling Program. Other special programs include a stillbirth assessment service and a teratogen information service. In addition, counselors are involved in clinics serving families with members with clefting, cystic fibrosis, Prader-Willi syndrome, etc. Finally, the genetics staff travels to outreach sites throughout the state, where they provide clinical care as well as education and training for professionals and the public.

Phonology Clinic
(608) 263-5798
Directors: Joan Kwiatkowski, MA
Lawrence D. Shriberg, PhD
Phonlogy Clinic Web Site: http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/phonology/

The Phonology Clinic provides speech therapy services for preschool and school-age children. Younger children may have severely reduced speech intelligibility due to speech-sound deletions and substitutions; older children may have unusual error patterns or persistent speech sound distortions. Individualized treatment programs are based on the child's communication profile, which includes the results of a comprehensive phonetic/phonologic/prosodic analysis and information on cognitive, psycholinguistic, language comprehension, language production, oral-motor, and psychosocial development.

Spasticity and Movement Disorders Clinic
(608) 263-7335
Medical Director: Leland Albright, MD
Contact: Traci Houghton, RN

In the Spasticity and Movement Disorders Clinic, children and young adults with neurological disorders causing abnormalities of muscle tone are evaluated by a multidisciplinary team led by Leland Albright, MD. Each patient is seen by skilled professionals representing neurosurgery, orthopedics, physiatry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and nursing. An individualized and comprehensive plan of care is then developed by the team members, with input from families and patients. Treatments may include oral medications, botox injections, orthopedic operations or neurosurgical procedures, including intrathecal baclofen, deep brain stimulation or other procedures.

LAB SERVICES

The Biochemical Genetics Lab offers unique services, including:

1. comprehensive quantitative organic acids analysis on urine;
2. quantitative amino acid analysis of blood, urine, and other body fluids;
3. biotinidase assay;
4. screening for inborn errors of metabolism on urine;
5. lysosomal enzymes, hexosaminidase A and B (Tay-Sachs), arylsulfatase A, B-galactosidase;
6. phenylalanine and tyrosine;
7. carnitine measurement; and
8. urine-sugar chromatography.

FINANCIAL CONCERNS

The total charge for a Waisman Center visit will depend on the range of services received. In addition to charges for professional services provided at the Waisman Center, additional expenses, such as laboratory fees, may be incurred. Billing for clinical services is handled through the University of Wisconsin Medical Foundation, and/or University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics. Some of the Biochemical Generic lab work is billed through the Waisman Center.
Many health insurance policies and Wisconsin Medical Assistance will cover CSU services, but the type and extent of coverage vary greatly. Please review your policy carefully.
When an HMO is to be billed for the service we must have an authorized referral. When Medical Assistance is to be billed for the service, we must have either an authorized referral or a written denial from the HMO before we can provide services.
If possible, Waisman Center staff will assist clients and/or their families in securing financial assistance if needed.

REFERRAL AND APPLICATION

Waisman Center clinics accept referrals from any source, including self-referrals. Inquiries and referrals can be made by calling (608) 263-5815 or by directly contacting one of the clinics. The application procedure sometimes involves an assessment of individual needs prior to the arrangement for an appointment. Staff schedule appointments as soon as possible after receiving the referral. Several clinics have waiting lists for services.

CLINIC HOURS:
7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

WHERE WE ARE LOCATED

The Waisman Center
1500 Highland Avenue
Madison, Wisconsin 53705-2280
608-263-1656 (lobby desk)

Clients, patients, and visitors should park and enter building on north side of the Waisman Center.

Maps & Parking

The Waisman Center is located in the west area of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, across the street from UW Hospital and Clinics.