Mothers of children with developmental disabilities experience long-term stress, adapting for many years but showing signs of ‘wear-and-tear’ starting around age 65, affecting their physical and mental health.
Leann DaWalt
Autism through Midlife and into Older Age
Autistic adults may face changes in their autism symptoms, behavioral functioning, and health as they age, with some improving and some worsening, a new study shows. This insight may help autistic individuals and their families prepare and plan for the future.
Leann Smith DaWalt, PhD – Slide of the Week
Autistic adults experience challenges in maintaining employment; however, little is known about patterns of competitive employment through late midlife. This longitudinal study examined the change in hours of competitive employment for a cohort of autistic adults over a 22-year period.
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.
Branching out beyond where it’s planted: The story of the Waisman Center’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Part 2
Former UCEDD director Bill MacLean with current director Leann DaWalt.
Branching out beyond where it’s planted: The story of the Waisman Center’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Part 1
The University of Wisconsin-Madison was one of the first sites to be selected to have an IDDRC and UCEDD because of the urging of Harry Waisman, MD, PhD, a prominent researcher physician, for whom the Waisman Center is named.
Leann Smith DaWalt, PhD – Slide of the Week
This study describes change in autism symptoms, behavioral functioning, and health measured prospectively over 22 years.
Transitioning Together helps adolescents with autism and their families gear up for adulthood
The Transitioning Together curriculum is adaptable to different settings, including clinical settings and school settings. Because of its unique design and positive impacts, it has been adopted in 11 states outside of Wisconsin, and Canada.
Understanding autism from the minute to the masses: Autism research at the Waisman Center
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an intricate and complicated diagnosis. The spectrum of presentations and severity is as expansive as the theorized causes. Autism’s complexity and breadth of impacts on a person’s life means that it has a multitude of facets to investigate.
Lawrence Students get firsthand look at research at Waisman through summer internship program
Since 2016, the Waisman Center has partnered with Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin to provide summer research internships for undergraduate Lawrence students in the labs of Waisman researchers.