The Waisman Center is committed to providing high-quality services to children and adults with autism and their families.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs social interaction, communication, and behavior. It affects approximately one out of every 36 children.
The scope of the Waisman Center’s autism-related activities continues to expand as we actively pursue research into the causes, consequences and treatments of this complex disorder.
We are uniquely positioned to make major advances in the understanding of autism through our multidisciplinary approach and expertise in effectively combining research, training, service, and outreach programs under one roof.
Clinic
The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic is an interdisciplinary clinic that provides diagnosis and clinical care for children with or at risk for a developmental disability including autism spectrum disorders.
Autism Treatment Program
The program provides focused behavioral treatment services for children, teens, young adults and their families.
Working Together
Working Together is a multi-family group psychoeducation intervention for young adults with autism and their families.
UCEDD
The mission of the Waisman Center, University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) is to support the full inclusion and self determination of people with developmental disabilities and their families. Autism is a major area of focus.
WISADDS
WISADDS is a multi-source public health surveillance project that monitors the prevalence of autism spectrums disorders (ASDs), cerebral palsy (CP), and co-occurring intellectual disability (ID) in 8-year-old children within a 10-county area in southeastern Wisconsin.
Children's Resource Center-South
Guiding Wisconsin families of children and youth with special health care needs. We are parents and professionals who can help get answers, find services, connect you to community resources, provide trainings, and support you on your journey.
Training
Autism Day with the Experts
Since 2004 the annual Waisman Center Day with the Experts: Autism has featured presentations about advances in autism research and answers to audience questions. Visit the archives page to view past presentations and download handouts.
Autism and DD Community of Practice
The Community of Practice on Autism Spectrum Disorders and other Developmental Disabilities (CoP ASD/DD) meets as a statewide group three times a year and then practice groups will meet throughout the year to further their action steps. View videos of past presentations and PowerPoints.
ECHO Autism WI
Learn best practices and evidence-based care for children with autism and developmental behavioral concerns while getting your clinical questions answered by University of Wisconsin-Madison Waisman Center autism experts.
Events
Autism Events
@ 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Aldo Leopold Elementary School: 2602 Post Rd, Madison, WI 53713
Studies Currently Recruiting
Our Partners
The Waisman Center works in collaboration with community partners to serve the autism community through outreach and training.
Waisman Autism News
At UW-Madison, autistic students navigate personal, classroom obstacles
There are 99 UW-Madison students on the autism spectrum, according to the McBurney Disability Resource Center’s 2022-23 annual report.
A new grant from the Eagles Autism Foundation will help advance Waisman research on the genetic cause of autism
Studying the biological underpinnings of autism is exceptionally complex with more than 1000 genes thought to be associated with autism.
Waisman postdoctoral fellow receives prestigious Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholar Award
Yu (Kristy) Guo, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Waisman investigator Xinyu Zhao, PhD, professor of neuroscience, was recently selected to receive the prestigious Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholar Award. This award is highly competitive with seven or fewer individuals selected from across the nation each year. The purpose is to support postdoctoral scientists of exceptional creativity in the field of neurosciences and assist them in transitioning from student to independent researcher by establishing their own lab and securing a full-time faculty position.
Research Insights: Autistic children’s mental health affected by the quality of their parents’ romantic relationships, mental health — and vice versa
Brianna Piro-Gambetti, who received her PhD in Human Development & Family Studies (HDFS) in 2023, is the lead author of a recently published study that examined how the mental health of autistic children is connected with the mental health and romantic relationship quality of their parents.
Barriers and facilitators of inclusive healthcare for autistic adults call for a system-level approach to improving health outcomes
Barriers to accessing inclusive healthcare for autistic adults
- More Posts
Autism-Related Research at Waisman
- Adolescence and adulthood
- Brain imaging
- Epidemiology
- Family outcomes
- Health and Aging
- Molecular basis of ASD
- Quality of life
- Speech, communication and language
Resources & Services
Research Participation | 800.965.9205; 608.263.5192; registry@waisman.wisc.edu; Participate in Research
The Waisman Center’s Research Registry links individuals and families to research projects at the Waisman Center. The Waisman Center maintains a confidential registry of families and individuals who would like to be contacted about upcoming research projects. Enrollment in the Research Registry does not obligate an individual or family to participate in any study.
Community Outreach for Children with Challenging Behaviors | 608-265-9438; cow.waisman.wisc.edu/ties
Community Training, Intervention and Evaluations Services (TIES) is an outreach program for children and adults with developmental disabilities who present various challenging behaviors, including withdrawal, aggression and self-injury. The mission of Community TIES is to address behavioral, psychological, and emotional needs using therapeutic approaches that insure continued participation in the community. TIES provides counseling, crisis response, psychiatric consultation, parent education and support, and training for personnel and program consultation in local human service agencies. Directed by Josh Lapin, MSW, and funded by Dane County, this program maintains an active caseload of approximately 250 children and adults in Dane County.
Finding Your Way: Videos for Families | wicii.waisman.wisc.edu/training/fyw-videos/
Finding Your Way is a video series for families and caregivers of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The videos provide information on services and resources for children with disabilities in Wisconsin. Topics include the Birth to Three Program, Children's Long-Term Supports Program (CLTS)/Children's Community Options Program (CCOP), Early Childhood Special Education, Head Start/Early Head Start, Home Visiting Programs, Katie Beckett Medicaid, Outpatient Therapy, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Wisconsin Wayfinder: Essential Children's Resources | 877-947-2929; dhs.wisconsin.gov/wiscway/
Wisconsin Wayfinder supports families of children with delays, disabilities, special health care needs, and mental health conditions. Children’s resource guides are helpers who assist families, caregivers, professionals, and organizations in finding a wide array of supports and services available through the Children’s Resource Network. Their services are free and confidential. Connect with a children's resource guide. Call (877) WiscWay or use our contact form.
Well Badger Resource Center | 800-642-7837; text: 608-360-9328; help@wellbadger.org; https://www.wellbadger.org/
When you have questions about health and social services, figuring out where to go when you need help can be overwhelming. We’re here to make it easier. Well Badger Resource Center is your one-stop connection to community, social, health, and government programs — a place to find what you need, when you need it.