Cerebral Palsy Clinic

WELCOME

The Waisman Center Clinics provide comprehensive clinical care and support for children with disabilities and their families. The Waisman Center Cerebral Palsy Clinic is a partnership with UW Health and the American Family Children’s Hospital. An interdisciplinary team of professionals works together to address the complex needs of children up to 21 years of age with cerebral palsy and other neurological conditions that affect motor development.

Children and their families receive a comprehensive evaluation with follow-up care and re-evaluation by the core interdisciplinary staff from: rehabilitation medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, and nursing. Strong relationships with the families of clients and linkages with other community service agencies and specialty health care providers are in place to insure that services meet commonly recognized and agreed upon goals.

YOUR CLINIC VISIT

If you are interested in an appointment, please have your/your child’s primary care provider fill out a referral at uwhealth.org/referral.  We will call you to schedule an appointment once we have processed the referral.

  • This appointment may take up to four hours, so please plan accordingly.
  • All clinic visitors should park in stalls outlined in blue and give their license plate number to the schedulers upon check-in. (See map and directions below.)
  • Our clinic is located on the first floor of the Waisman Center, 1500 Highland Avenue.
  • Plan to arrive 5 to 10 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment. Check in at the clinic reception desk located just beyond the Waisman Center’s main lobby.
  • A medical assistant may obtain your child’s height, weight, pulse and blood pressure. You and your child will be taken to an examination room.
  • A rehabilitation medicine physician will obtain a thorough health history, examine your child, discuss the evaluation and answer any questions.
  • Other professionals may also provide evaluations and/or consultations.
  • The clinics are a nut-free zone.

NOTE: Full visit information will be shared in writing with you and your child’s primary health care provider, subspecialists, and others as indicated by signed release of information forms.

GOALS OF THE CLINIC TEAM

  • Provide initial and follow-up visits to address concerns related to cerebral palsy and related conditions in the areas of: feeding, growth, mobility and self-care skills, communication, behavior, therapy and equipment, recommendations, support services, and coordination of health care needs.
  • Provide individualized assessments from any or all team members related to the particular needs of the child as identified by their parent or guardian.
  • Support and advocate for the patient and family.

Clinic Team

Clinic Director

Melissa Villegas, MD

Position title: Rehabilitation Medicine

Physicians

Lauren Fetsko, DO

Position title: Rehabilitation Medicine

Clinic Team

Katie Benavente, PT, DPT

Position title: Physical Therapist

Jaclyn Bender, MS OTR/L

Position title: Occupational Therapist

Molly Gard, RN, BSN

Position title: Nurse

Cheryl Ginther, PT, DPT

Position title: Physical Therapist

Michelle Minter, MS, CCC-SLP

Position title: Speech-Language Pathologist

Bethany Prevost, MS, CCC-SLP

Position title: Speech-Language Pathologist

Email: brprevost@wisc.edu

Resources

Cerebral PalsyThe Cerebral Palsy Hub Page

Find all the Waisman Center activities related to cerebral palsy, including research, training, clinics, studies, news articles, events and more.

Maps, Directions, and Parking for Clinic Visitors

Parking MapFrom the east—follow University Avenue through campus and then go off to the right on Campus Drive; stay in the right lane and turn right at the University Bay Drive/Farley Avenue intersection.

From the west—follow University Avenue and turn left at the University Bay Drive/Farley Avenue intersection. After making the turn (from either direction)... Continue straight over the hill; the road at that point becomes Highland Avenue. The Waisman Center is at the bottom of the hill on the left, across the street from UW-Children's Hospital.

PARKING: All clinic visitors should park in stalls outlined in blue and give their license plate number to the schedulers upon check-in.

ENTRANCE: Enter building in north tower at main clinics/lobby doors. Turn right and walk through lobby to clinics registration desk.

Click on map thumbnail to view larger image.

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