More than 400,000 individuals in the United States have Down syndrome, or trisomy 21–a chromosomal condition caused by an extra 21st chromosome. Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring chromosomal condition. Approximately one in every 733 babies is born with Down syndrome each year.
Waisman Down Syndrome Activities
Down Syndrome Clinic
The Waisman Center provides comprehensive clinical care and support for children with disabilities and their families.
Day with the Experts: Down Syndrome
Since 2010, Day with the Experts: Down Syndrome has focused on sharing knowledge about Down syndrome across the life course, from research using stem cells to the latest standards of care.
BioLibrary
The Waisman BioLibrary is a new Waisman Center initiative. The first study from this project is related to Down syndrome. Visit to learn more.
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.
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.
Studies Recruiting
Down Syndrome Studies Recruiting
Are you a young adult with Down syndrome looking to make brain waves for science? (Litovsky)
Our Goals: We hope you will be a part of the first study for young adults with Down syndrome to combine: Who can help? Young adults with Down syndrome who are: 18 to 24 years …
Leveraging Technology to Identify Outcome Measures for Young Children with Down Syndrome (Sterling)
If you are a parent of a child ages two to five years with Down syndrome, you are invited to participate in a research study conducted by Dr. Audra Sterling’s Lab at the Waisman Center, …
Alzheimer’s Biomarkers Consortium – Down Syndrome: ABC-DS (Christian & Hartley)
The National Institutes of Health-funded Alzheimer’s Biomarkers Consortium – Down Syndrome (ABC-DS), a large multi-center research initiative to find biomarkers to track Alzheimer’s disease in Down syndrome. The Waisman Center is part of this multi-site …
Waisman BioLibrary: Down Syndrome Study (Chang)
Be included! Families of children with Down syndrome are invited to participate in our new study about genetics and health. The Waisman BioLibrary is recruiting youth with Down syndrome ages 0 – 17 years. Families …
- More Down syndrome posts
Events
Down Syndrome Events
@ 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
2238 South Park Street, Madison, WI 53713
Managing Threatening Confrontations is designed to assist you in learning how to effectively support individuals who could experience the full range of behavioral escalation.
@ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
John D. Wiley Conference Center, Room T216
Aislinn Williams, MD, PhD University of Iowa Profile About the Speaker: Aislinn Williams, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Iowa and a member of the Iowa Neuroscience Institute. Her …
@ 9:00 am - 11:30 am
1500 Highland Ave, Madison WI 53705
21st Annual Click Here to Register En español Event Details When: Saturday, February 22, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Where: In Person – At the Waisman Center – Friends of the Waisman Center Auditorium …
@ 8:15 am - 12:30 pm
Virtual - Register for Zoom Code
Come Join us for a discussion around the intersection of our bodies and disability focusing on gut health and sleep health. We will learn about existing research and discussion on these issues. Following that we …
@ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
2238 South Park Street, Madison, WI 53713
In this training session we will look at power and control in support relationships. Many people being supported feel that others are too often telling them what to do.
@ 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Fecha: 27 de febrero Título: Invitados: Promo: Un espacio creado por el Waisman Center, Universidad de Wisconsin-Madison para hablar con científicos y proveedores de salud acerca de discapacidades de desarrollo como autismo y síndrome de …
News
Waisman Down Syndrome News
What research has revealed about Down syndrome’s influence on brain development
A new review paper published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience from Bhattacharyya, associate professor of cell and regenerative biology, pulls together what is currently known about DS’s impact on brain development.
February 13, 2025Hearing loss and cognition both play a role in speech recognition for young adults with Down syndrome
For young adults with Down syndrome, understanding speech is not only related to hearing abilities, but it may also be impacted by cognition.
December 4, 2024A Family’s Committment to Down Syndrome Research at the Waisman Center Spans Four Decades and Counting
When Heather Huismann was in middle school she called the police on her teacher. “He was not teaching me very well,” Heather says. So, she did what her parents taught her to do when there …
December 3, 2024NIH establishes $20 million program to study Down syndrome from birth to adulthood
Researchers at the Waisman Center are included in a recently launched a new long-term study to observe and track health data of people with Down syndrome from birth to adulthood
October 24, 2024Sigan Hartley, research team receive $9 million National Institutes of Health grant to study Down syndrome
Sigan Hartley, 100 Women Distinguished Chair in Human Ecology and Human Development & Family Studies professor, and a team of researchers have received a $9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
October 24, 2024Waisman Center IDDRC funds three pilot projects on novel Down syndrome research
Three Waisman Center investigators and affiliates were awarded an internal grant to support Down syndrome research in its early stages. The funds were made possible through the Ann Dewey Down Syndrome Catalyst Fund at the Waisman Center.
August 1, 2024- More Posts
Additional Resources
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.