My work at the Waisman Center encompasses database administration, web development, technical support, and software programming.
Database Administration
I am responsible for the development and maintenance of several important databases used at the Waisman Center. These databases
include:
- WIF (Waisman Information Form)
This database has a record for each of the more than 600 people working at the Waisman Center and is used to
implement the online Directory of People and a printed directory, among other purposes. The web-based Waisman
Information Form (WIF) allows administrators to create, delete, and edit records as well as query the database.
WIF uses PHP as its scripting language and MySQL as its database and runs on an Apache web server on
the HP OpenVMS Cluster at the Waisman Center.
- Waisman Employee Performance Review
This secure system enables academic and classified employees and their supervisors to complete their performance reviews
on the Web and have their comments stored in a database. The application uses PHP as its scripting language and MySQL as its database and runs on an Apache Web server on
the HP OpenVMS Cluster at the Waisman Center.
- Community Training Events
This application enables Waisman staff to enter information about events and activities, both for
the general public and to keep track of activities to be reported to the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD).
It also provides a section for the public at large to enter information about upcoming community training events.
The system uses Microsoft Access, ASP, VBScript, ADO, MS Jet SQL and the MS Internet Information Server running under Windows 2000 Server.
- Personnel
This database is used to maintain personnel information about Waisman employees and print UW-Madison personnel forms.
Personnel exists as a Microsoft Access database that includes a significant amount of Microsoft Visual Basic
code.
- ClinicClients
This database is used to maintain information about Waisman Center clinic clients that must be reported
to the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), the Administration on Developmental Disabilities
(ADD), and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB). ClinicClients exists as a Microsoft Access database.
- Charges
Waisman Charges is a web-based interface to the MS Access database that maintains the internal charge-back system of the
Waisman Services. It uses ASP, VBScript, ADO, MS Jet SQL and the MS Internet Information Server running under Windows
2000 Server.
Web Development
Utilizing HTML/XHTML, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), ASP, PHP/MySQL, and JavaScript,
I have helped set up several important web sites at the Waisman Center (in addition to some
of the applications listed above), including:
- Gatlinburg Conference
(http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/gatlinburg/)
The web site of one of the premier conferences in the United States for behavioral scientists conducting research in intellectual and
related developmental disabilities. Online registration automatically enters registrants into a database.
- Waisman Center
(http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/)
Some interesting public aspects of this web site include: the Directory of People page, which directly queries
the WIF MySQL database, and the Waisman Computer Order Form, which allows Center
personnel order custom-built PCs and keeps a running cost total using JavaScript.
- Family Village
(http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/)
One of the best-known web sites in the disability community, the Family Village offers information about hundreds of diagnoses.
Technical Support
An important part of my work at the Waisman Center is to help users with their questions and problems involving the internet,
web browsers, local area networks, Microsoft Windows, OpenVMS, office suite applications, and other computer topics.
Software Programming
Besides programming in database languages such as Microsoft Access Visual Basic and SQL,
a significant part of my work involves developing web applications using PHP and MySQL,
and also using Active Server Pages, VBScript and Active Database Objects.
Occasionally, I develop small programs in other languages, such as JavaScript, Perl, and
OpenVMS DCL (Digital Command Language).
Last updated January 3, 2008