Community Outreach Wisconsin

Community Outreach Wisconsin Programs

Community Outreach Wisconsin (COW) is a group of unique cutting-edge programs within the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at the Waisman Center, UW-Madison. These programs work extensively with individuals and community teams supporting persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

2025 AUCD Conference

Josh Lapin, Community TIES Director, and Michael Truman, Training Director, attended the 2025 AUCD Conference in Washington, D.C. The conference brings together more than 1,100 researchers, policymakers, practitioners, professionals, advocates, community leaders, and students. This annual event is designed to promote innovative thinking that will launch disability policy, research, and advocacy initiatives to the next level. Lapin and Truman shared about the fifteen Managing Threatening Confrontations virtual training sessions provided to Wisconsin residents supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities. 

The Waisman Center celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023.  For more information about the Waisman Center’s history and last year’s anniversary events, please click here.

Community Outreach Wisconsin COVID-19 Practices

 Updated 03/13/2024

As many of our community partners, we had to navigate the challenge of offering our services while safeguarding the health and well-being of individuals we serve and our dedicated staff.  Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic we implemented some important changes and were happy when Community Wisconsin Outreach staff were able to have in person contact with participants and families again.

Below you will find updated information about our respective programs and an abbreviated overview of our protocols:

  • Our Olin office is open again for visitors. Community Outreach staff have the option to work out of their respective homes to reduce the total number of staff present in our office at any given time. N-95 or surgical masks are available to staff and visitors.
  • Team meetings for all programs can continue via conference calls or online meeting apps. Community Outreach staff are happy to host HIPAA compliant virtual meetings. Small in-person meetings are also possible at Olin Avenue in our shared conference room.
  • The TIES clinic has continued to operate via tele-health. In-person or hybrid appointments/meetings are being considered.
  • Community Trainings are offered both in-person, but also in an online format.
  • Community Outreach staff will work remotely when symptomatic and are provided with face masks, hand sanitizer, and necessary cleaning/disinfecting supplies. WIN nurses have access to additional PPE.

We will continue to monitor state and local data, follow CDC, DHS, City of Madison, and Dane County Public Health guidelines and will adjust our practices as needed.

Additional information about the newest CDC guidelines can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p0301-respiratory-virus.html

Please reach out to us if you have any questions. We can be reached at our typical phone numbers and email addresses.