Interdisciplinary Technical Assistance Center on Autism and Developmental Disabilities

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Wagner, Barbara J.

Family Collaboration Coordinator, UCEDD and WI MCH LEND

EDUCATION

UW-Madison, WI – B.A. 1982 Psychology

Edgewood College, Madison, WI 1986-88 Coursework in

Week-end MBA Program

Professional Interest

Work with Maternal and Child Health and Waisman Center UCEDD staff to advocate for people with, and families of children with developmental disabilities. Foster and support family-centered care, people first language and respect and dignity for people with disabilities. Promote full inclusion in communities and in all aspects of living for people with disabilities across the life span. Provide a parent’s perspective of a young adult with special health care needs.

Professional Experience and Appointments

1994–Present Family Collaboration Coordinator for WI MCH LEND, Waisman Center,

University of Wisconsin – Madison

1994–Present Coordinator for the MCH LEND Family Mentor Experience Program.

Recruit families who have children with special health care needs and match graduate level trainees to these families in order for trainees to have the opportunity to learn directly from the family’s perspective and share in experiences that will enhance their sensitivity to the strengths, concerns, successes and challenges of raising a child or adult with developmental disability.

1994-Present Recruit families who have children with developmental disabilities and match graduate level students to these families in order to develop a mentoring relationship. The purpose of the mentor relationship is to provide students with the unique opportunity to learn directly from a family, and share in experiences that will enhance their sensitivity to the strengths, concerns, successes and challenges of raising a child or youth with special and complex needs.

Spring, 2005-Present Coordinator for Summer Cultural Immersion Experience (SCIE).

Make contacts to sites in Madison and throughout WI to collaborate in order to arrange cultural immersion experiences for trainees in exchange for direct service provision / volunteer services at sites. The purpose is to establish a partnership that addresses the needs of the community placement site and the goals of the Waisman Center training programs for trainees, to gain a higher level of awareness to develop skills to be more effective working in diverse settings.

Spring, 2005-Present Coordinate NIRS (National Information and Reporting System)

Register, track, update and survey MCH and UCEDD Waisman Center trainees and conduct consumer survey data collection for Waisman Center.

1994 – 1995 Project Assistant on grant awarded by the Administration for Developmental Disabilities (ADD). Assisted with implementation of the African-American Parents as Leaders Training Program and development of a model parent leadership training for Hispano-Latino parents of adolescents with disabilities.

1992 – 1994 Financial Benefits Counselor, Waisman Center. Help families with regard to Advocate for families through efforts to work with their insurance companies, HMOs, Medical assistance, economic support specialists, physicians, and any others who affect their ability to receive health care coverage for their children.

Professional Memberships

2005–Present: University of Wisconsin – Madison Occupational Therapy Program Advisory Committee member.

2004–Present: Wisconsin Coalition for Advocacy Advisory Committee member representing the Waisman Center, serving on the Schools and Civil Rights Advisory Committee.

1993–1996: Health Promotion Project for People with Developmental Disabilities in the Community, member.

Presentations/Conferences Attended

2005 Panel speaker at AMCHP LEND Family Faculty Discipline Meeting in

Washington, D.C., February, 2005, on Best Practices for Family Mentoring

2005 Parent Panel speaker for Madison Area Down Syndrome Society (MADSS),

May, 2005, “Learning from Experience, A Parent Perspective,” UW Foundation, Madison, WI, by parents of individuals with Down syndrome ranging in age from 16 to adulthood.

2003 – 05 Interviews by Pediatric Occupational Therapy Undergraduates, “Raising a Child with Special Health Care Needs,” UW - Madison; to help students develop interviewing skills in their Profession, yearly, in spring, as part of their coursework.

2003 Circles of Life Conference, Oconomowoc, WI, Sibling Panel; preparation and guidance, “What it is Like as a Sibling of a Family Member with Developmental Disabilities.” Daughter also presented.

2002 Parent Panel speaker for “Individuals with Disabilities” class; School of Education, Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education, UW- Madison.

1998 Parenthood in America National Conference, sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

1997 Poster Presentation at Annual Meeting of the American Association of University Affiliated Programs for Persons with Developmental Disabilities in Kansas City, MO, on the Wisconsin MCH LEND Program.

1995 “Raising a Child with Down Syndrome,” Presentation, Department of Kinesiology, UW-Madison.

1995 “Transitioning from Early Intervention to Early Childhood Programs”;

Bridges for Families, Birth to Three Program, Madison, WI.

1994 “A Parent’s Perspective on Early Intervention for a Child with Special Health Care Needs,” Early Childhood Program-Madison Metropolitan School District.

1993 “Professional Practice from a Parent’s Perspective,” Genetics Institute Outreach Education.

1993 “Parenting a Child with Down Syndrome,” Child Development Class at the University of Wisconsin; Child and Family Studies, School of Family Resources and Consumer Sciences.

Research and Training Support

Project Assistant on Family and Youth leadership Development for African Americans and Hispanic/Latino Americans; Administration