Southern Regional Center Children & Youth with Special Health Care Needs

Southern Regional Center Children & Youth with Special Health Care Needs The Children's Resource Center South is located in the Waisman Center and serves 14 counties in south and southwest WI

03/14/2026

Down syndrome, a neurodevelopmental condition caused by a triplicated 21st chromosome, often presents with co-occurring developmental conditions such as autism. But diagnosing autism in someone with Down syndrome can be difficult as they have overlapping symptoms.

03/13/2026

People First Wisconsin congratulates Cindy Bentley for being named the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD.) She will receive the award on Friday, March 13th at their annual conference. Watch for more photos of the event. Way to go Cindy!

Image Description: A newspaper clipping with a picture of a short-haired, smiling African american woman. The newspaper text reads, Bentley named Lifetime Achievement award recognition. Milwaukee--Cindy Bentley of Milwaukee has been named the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient by the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disability (AAIDD). Bentley serves as Executive Director of People First Wisconsin and has been a life-long advocate for the rights and accessibility of people with developmental disabilities. Born with a disability in 1957, she spent most of her young life in an institution and the foster care system,. She became active in Special Olympics, winning her first gold medal at the age of 13. She was named the Special Olympics International Athlete of the year in 1991 and became the international spokesperson for the organization. In 1999, she helped found People First Wisconsin and today serves as its Executive Director. In honor of her achievements, UW-MIlwaukee granted her an honorary doctorate in 2025. AAIDD is the oldest and largest professional organization in the Developmental Disability field. Founded in 1876, the group is celebrating it's 150th anniversary this year. it's very fitting in our anniversary year that this life-time achievement award is presented to Cindy Bentley, said Dan Drury of the Wisconsin Chapter. In the disability field there is no voice more important than that of the self-advocate. The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented at AAIDD-Wisconsin's annual conference on March 13 on the campus of UW-River Falls. For more information about the conference, visit http://www.aaiddwi.com/conference/

03/12/2026

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

This month is a reminder that people with developmental disabilities deserve full access to economic opportunity, financial security and community inclusion.

In Maryland, the butterfly symbol, which can appear on a driver’s license or state ID to indicate a developmental disability, reflects growing efforts like Eric’s Law to promote safety, understanding and stronger protections for people with developmental disabilities.

Public policy matters, and so does access to the right financial tools and resources.

At National Disability Institute, we work every day to advance financial inclusion so people with disabilities can build assets, plan for the future and achieve their goals.

Learn more about our work and how policy and financial empowerment go hand in hand: https://www.nationaldisabilityinstitute.org/public-policy-and-research/

Image description: A square graphic with a teal border and a white background. At the top center is a soft blue butterfly. Below it, teal text reads, “March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.”


03/12/2026

With heavy hearts, we want to share an important update with our community.

After many years of serving families, caregivers, and communities across Wisconsin, Wisconsin Family Ties will be closing its doors. Our last date of peer support services will be April 10, 2026.

This decision was not made lightly. Due to funding constraints at both the state and federal levels, we are no longer able to sustain our programs. We are incredibly grateful for the trust you have placed in us and for the partnerships and connections we’ve built over the years.

With our time remaining, we will strive to support as many families as possible. Our referral form will remain open until March 20, and at this time we are only able to support families who are enrolled through CCS, CLTS, or another funding source.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact us board@wifamilyties.org or visit the resources page on our website: https://www.wifamilyties.org/resources/

We will continue sharing updates, webinars, and resources on our social media and email list until our closure.

Thank you for being part of the Wisconsin Family Ties community. It has truly been a privilege to serve Wisconsin families and work alongside so many dedicated partners committed to helping children and families thrive.

03/07/2026

All webinars included free with membership 🎓

03/05/2026

Your Gift Makes a Difference Your generosity enables us to advance the boundaries of science and provide critical treatment and services to individuals and families who seek our help. » Learn More

03/05/2026

March is Women’s History Month.

Disabled women have shaped history, advanced civil rights, challenged artistic norms and transformed how we understand disability.

From Judy Heumann’s leadership in the disability rights movement to Harriet Tubman’s abolitionist legacy, from Frida Kahlo’s groundbreaking art to Alice Wong’s impact on disability storytelling and advocacy, their contributions continue to influence generations.

Representation matters. History includes disabled women. Who else would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments.

Image description: Graphic titled “Disabled Women Who Shaped History” with NDI logo in the top right corner. The slide features four women with brief biographies and photos: Judy Heumann (1947–2023), disability rights activist and wheelchair user who helped lead the 504 Sit-in and advance the Americans with Disabilities Act; Harriet Tubman (c. 1822–1913), abolitionist and political activist who sustained a traumatic brain injury and likely lived with epilepsy; Frida Kahlo (1907–1954), Mexican painter who lived with chronic pain and mobility impairments; and Alice Wong (1974–2025), disability rights activist with spinal muscular atrophy and founder of the Disability Visibility Project. Portrait images of each woman appear below their biographies.

02/26/2026

UW–Madison kinesiology lab launches workout program for moms of children with disabilities February 19, 2026 By Laurel White For many parents, time alone to focus on themselves is a precious rarity -- opportunities to read a book, connect with a friend,...

02/13/2026

Family Leadership Opportunity ALERT! A new Advisory Board for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs is now accepting applications. This group will guide programs and policies by sharing family experiences. Deadline for applying is March 15 - Learn More: familyvoiceswi.org/cyshcn-advisory-committee/

02/13/2026

Relationships are hard. It’s part of why there are countless books, podcasts, and blog posts about how to build, maintain, and keep relationships. Navigating today’s social landscape to find friends and partners can have so many challenges. For someone who is on the autism spectrum, finding and fostering relationships can be even more complicated. “Sometimes it feels like rocket science,” says Ibrahim, an adult with autism. But there are lots of ways to help make building connections and cultivating relationships feel more manageable. Check out the full story to learn more about how individuals with autism navigate making friends and some tips and tricks from a Waisman Center expert!
https://www.waisman.wisc.edu/2026/02/10/finding-connection-the-struggles-and-strengths-of-building-relationships-for-individuals-with-autism/

Address

1500 Highland Avenue
Madison, WI
53705

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+18005323321

Website

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