1.1 Studies, teaching and academic career 

• 1995-2002 Study of the degree programme "Teaching Qualification for Special Needs Education" at the University of Dortmund (without degree)
• 1996-2004 Studied the degree programme "Diploma in Education / Specialisation in Special Needs Education and Rehabilitation" at the University of Dortmund;

è Topic of the Diplom thesis: Development of dialogue structures and communicative skills with children with severe multiple disabilities who do not or hardly communicate intentionally.

è 2005: Awarded the Lotte Kaliski Study Prize of the University of Dortmund / Fac. Rehabilitation Sciences for outstanding credits and special commitment during her studies and in her work for people with disabilities

• Summer term 2004: Research assistant at the University of Dortmund / Fak. Rehabilitation Sciences / RuP with physical disabilities
• Winter term 2005: WHK University of Dortmund / Fak. Rehabilitation Sciences / RuP with physical disabilities
• May 2007-Sept. 2009: Research assistant at the University of Dortmund, now TU Dortmund/ Fac. Rehabilitation Sciences / RuP with physical disabilities
• Oct. 2009-Sept. 2017: Teaching staff for special tasks at the University of Oldenburg / Institute of Special Needs Education and Rehabilitation / Pedagogy for people with intellectual disabilities and pedagogy for people with physical and motor impairments
• Oct. 2017- Sept. 2019 research assistantCollaboration at the University of Oldenburg / Institute of Special Needs Education and Rehabilitation / Pedagogy for Students with Intellectual Disabilities
   
• Teaching assignments:
  • 2005 - 2007 + winter term 2009: University of Dortmund / Fak. Reha-Wiss. / RuP at KB
  • Summer semester 2012: PH Heidelberg on the topic of "Communication in the context of severe disabilities"
  • Winter semester 2014: Humboldt University in Berlin on the topic of "Communication in the context of severe disabilities"
  • Summer semester 2018, 2019, 2020: Jade University of Applied Sciences in Oldenburg / Department of Health Technology / Department of Technology and Health for People (in cooperation with other colleagues)
     
• 2007-2021 Doctoral project:

The process of communication in the course of the progressive metabolic disease MPS type III/ Sanfilippo from the perspective of parents and close caregivers

• 2008: Universitäre Postmasteropleiding Orthopedagogiek Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (Netherlands): Course "Ernstige verstandelijke en meervoudige beperkingen. Een specifieke kijk" (post-master's course on the Vlaskamp educational programme)
• March 2009: Awarded the Leben Pur foundation's sponsorship prize on the subject of "Communication for people with severe disabilities".

For more information see:

Förderpreise der Stiftung Leben pur - Stiftung Leben pur (stiftung-leben-pur.de)

• DAAD scholarship for international congress trips (2010; 2012, 2016)

1.2 Professional activity and practical professional experience

• 1992-1995 Worked as (assistant) group leader in a curative education centre in the Netherlands
• 1995-2002 continued to work as a group leader at the centre in the Netherlands while studying (since 1998 involved in a residential group with severely multi-handicapped children aged 2-8 years)
• 2000/ 2001 Collaboration in the "KuMuLi" project (=art, music, literature) in the Dortmund municipal clinics (=project for the psychosocial support of children and young people in hospital with art and music therapy and education)
• 2002 Worked as a group leader in the curative education centre "Rozemarijn" in Heemstede in the Netherlands (foundation phase)
• 2004-2007 Qualified educationalist at the interdisciplinary early intervention centre Mohr GbR in Osnabrück
• 2005 -2009 Voluntary work at the German Children's Hospice Association DKHV e.V. in the context of family weekends and special children's workshops
• since 2007 advisor for the communication focus at DKHV e.V.: on request, occasional counselling on questions regarding communication support for children and adolescents with MPS type III/ Sanfilippo in a family and school context
• Since 2010, collaboration in the outpatient centre for AAC in the Outpatient Centre for ReHabilitation at the C.v.O. University of Oldenburg; since 2013 primarily focussing on acquired or progressive language and communication impairments in adulthood and children with complex impairments; since 2018 continuation of volunteer work
• Since April 2015: Advisor for the subject of special education at the vocational school for speech therapy in Oldenburg (sponsor: AWO Bezirksverband Weser-Ems e. V.)
• 2015/16 Collaboration in the practical project "Interdisciplinary office hours for AAC/AC in neurological diseases", a co-operation project between the Evangelical Hospital Oldenburg and the Counselling Centre for AAC at the University of Oldenburg under the direction of Dr Groß (EV) and Prof. Dr Erdélyi (Uni)
• Since May 2016: Neuro-rehabilitation educator specialising in AAC and support for relatives at the Evangelical Hospital Oldenburg (Clinic for Neurological Intensive Care and Early Rehabilitation)
• Since 2017: Advisor at MEZUK, Method Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication in Oldenburg

1.3 Further education and training

• 2019 Advanced training large hospice course in Bremen: "A different way of dealing with dying and death - possibilities of dignified life support for terminally ill people" (120 units)
• From March 2021: Certification as a "UK coach":

UK coach - THE further education programme for augmentative and alternative communication (uk-coach.de)

1.4 Activity in associations and networks

• German Children's Hospice Association DKHV e.V.:
• www.deutscher-kinderhospizverein.de
• Society for Mucopolysaccharidoses MPS e.V.
• Hospizhilfe Bremen: hospiz-bremen.de
• Society for Supported Communication e.V.: https://www.gesellschaft-uk.org
• kommhelp e.V.: www.kommhelp.de
• Neuronetzwerk Weser-Ems e.V.: neuronetzwerk-weser-ems.com
• nuKia - "Network for AAC in everyday life" with a focus on acquired neurological diseases in adulthood
• International Network for Patient-Provider-Communication:
• The PPC Forum (Patient-Provider Communication Network)

2.1 Focus of university teaching activities (selection)

• Dialogue and relationship building with children and young people with severe multiple disabilities: theoretical foundations, concepts, action planning (TU Dortmund University)
• Introduction to communication support - basics for the teaching profession at special schools specialising in physical and motor development (TU Dortmund University)
• Case counselling seminar on augmentative and alternative communication (University of Oldenburg)
• Developmental aspects of language and communication, diagnostics and support (University of Oldenburg)
• Rehabilitation and pedagogical-school aspects after acquired brain damage in childhood and adolescence (TU Dortmund, University of Oldenburg)
• Early intervention - communication right from the start (TU Dortmund)
• Pre-internship block internship in teaching-orientated gE and kmE as well as support-diagnostic internship both FR (Oldenburg)
• In-depth study of pedagogical and didactic issues relating to the specialisms kmE and GE (University of Oldenburg)
• Initial maths/German lessons for pupils with physical and/or mental impairments (University of Oldenburg)
• (School-based) support for children and young people with severe disabilities (University of Oldenburg)

2.2 Research interests

• Communication support / Augmentative and Alternative Communication
  • Interaction and communication with people with severe disabilities
  • AAC with a focus on acquired and progressive impairments of language and communication in childhood and adulthood
  • AAC in a clinical context and other areas of healthcare (patient-provider communication)
• School rehabilitation after acquired brain injury in childhood and adolescence
• School support and aspects of educational support for children and young people with progressive and life-shortening illnesses

2.3 Lectures and non-university teaching activities (workshops, further training)

• Lecture at the AAC Conference 2005, Dortmund
• Workshop at the IV Early Intervention Congress Cologne 2006
• Training event in the Netherlands (2006)
• Training event on communication, severe disabilities and support planning in two special schools specialising in physical and motor development in Hamburg (2007 and 2008)
• Keynote speech at the Special Education Congress in Berlin (Nov. 2007)
• Advisor at DKHV e.V. on the subject of communication: 2nd German Children's Hospice Forum (Nov. 2007), further education for volunteers (Nov. 2008)
• Workshop at the Early Intervention Symposium in Dortmund (March 2009)
• Workshop at the UK symposium in Dortmund (October 2009)
• 2 workshops at a regional UK symposium in Schwäbisch Hall (April 2010)
• Presentation at the 14th International ISAAC Conference in Barcelona (14th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication) (July 2010)
• Workshop at the symposium of the ISAAC regional group NRW in Dortmund (Nov. 2010)
• Workshop at the Early Intervention Symposium in Berlin (April 2011)
• Workshop at the UK training day organised by Diakonie in Oldenburg on the topic ""Oops, what's happening to me here?" Consciously shaping transitions and action sequences in everyday situations (not only) with severely multiply disabled people with regard to communication" (Oct. 2011)
• Further training on the topic of "Promoting reading among young people with intellectual disabilities", Verden 2012 (in co-operation with Carin de Vries/ University of Oldenburg)
• Poster presentation on the topic of the doctorate at the "12th International symposium on MPS and related diseases" in Noordwijkerhout/Netherlands (June 2012)
• Workshop at the UK symposium in Oldenburg on the topic of "Rituals and First Signs - Beginnings in Augmentative and Alternative Communication" (March 2013)
• Workshop at the AAC conference in Dortmund on the topic of "AAC in the community using the example of the so-called pharmacy project" (Oct. 2013)
• Poster presentation at the IASSID European Congress on the topic of promotion in Vienna (July 2014)
• Workshop at the 16th International Biennial of ISAAC on the topic of promotion in Lisbon (July 2014)
• Contribution to an international symposium on "Dementia in childhood" in Trondheim / Norway under the direction of Prof Stephen von Tetzchner (November 2014)
• Presentation on the topic as part of a regional UK symposium on "Intensive Interaction" with Dave Hewett in Berlin (February 2015)
• Lecture at the International Congress on Basal Stimulation in Berlin on the topic: "On the joint negotiation of meanings for intentionality - in communication - important steps in the development of severe disabilities (March 2015)
• Lecture on the topic of "UK in the community using the example of the so-called pharmacy project" as part of a symposium: "UK and transitions - everyone has a say!" in Oldenburg (May 2015)
• Training module on the topic of "Inclusion of children with severe disabilities" as part of the further education programme "Integrative education and training" for educational professionals in day-care centres in Oldenburg (February 2015; April 2016)
• Lecture on the challenges of school rehabilitation after traumatic brain injury; NRZ Friedehorst in Bremen (October 2015)
• Further training on the topic: "Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) for acquired impairments in adulthood, with a focus on neurodegenerative diseases using the example of multiple sclerosis" in Bremen (Bremer Heimstiftung, April 2016)
• Presentation at the Journal-Club UK on a review by Roche et al. 2015: "Microswitch technology for enabling self-determined responding in children with profound and multiple disabilities - a systematic review" (May 2016)
• Presentation at the 17th International Biennale of ISAAC on "AAC in children with neurodegenerative disease: examples of (best) practice" in Toronto/Canada (Aug. 2016)
• Lecture at the kmE Doz. conference on SHT in Dortmund (Sept. 2016, together with Prof. Britta Gebhard/Hochschule Nordhausen)
• Lecture "Dementia in childhood - a meaningful construct of conceptual construction?" at the autumn conference of the dgsgb in Kassel (Nov. 2016)dgsgb.de/volumes/978-3-938931-39-4/978-3-938931-39-4.pdf
• Lecture on the topic of SHT: "Transition from rehabilitation clinic to school: barriers and success factors" at the congress of the Bundesvereinigung Kinderneurologiehilfe e.V. in Berlin (November 2016, together with Prof Britta Gebhard/ Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences)
• Further training on "UK and partner strategies" for the nursing and rehabilitation team of the NFR at the Evangelical Hospital in Oldenburg (internal, Dec. 2016)
• Lecture "AAC in clinical context and research" as part of a collegial exchange at the University of Siena / Italy (Sept. 2017)
• Lecture "Why don't you just make it nice for him?" - Learning can also be nice!" as part of the forum "The right to education - suggestions for children's and youth hospice work at the 7th Children's Hospice Forum in Essen (Nov. 2017)
• Lecture "Possibilities of negotiating and maintaining communication
  using the example of MPS III / Sanfilippo" at the 7th Children's Hospice Forum in Essen (Nov. 2017)
• Further training: "Communication with severely disabled children - rituals and first signs" (Nov. 2017; MEZUK/ Oldenburg)
• Workshop: "Augmentative and Alternative Communication in a clinical context" at the conference for augmentative and alternative communication in Dortmund (Nov. 2017)
• Further education for volunteers in children's hospice work: "Supporting communication" (Bochum, autumn 2018)
• Further training: "Communication with severely disabled children - shaping transitions" MEZUK/ Oldenburg (Nov. 2018)
• GPS UK symposium, focus on Communication support for people with multiple impairments who do not yet communicate intentionally GPS Wilhelmshaven (Jan. 2019)
• Teacher training degree programme Freistatt module (autumn 2018)
• Lecture: "Development and implementation of the concept for UK in the Protestant Hospital in Oldenburg Clinic for Neurological Intensive Care and Early Rehabilitation" (together with Heidemarie Janßen-Waldhöfer, 1st Freiburg Symposium on Augmentative and Alternative Communication in the Clinic, March 2019)

Link to the slide handouts:

Lecture_ConceptOldenburg_Henning_Waldhöfer_Part1 (1).pdf

Lecture_ConceptOldenburg_Henning_Waldhöfer_Part2.pdf

• Workshop: "Non-electronic, individualised communication aids in everyday hospital life" at the 1st Freiburg Symposium on Augmentative and Alternative Communication in the Clinic (March 2019)

Link to the slide handouts (6 parts): Review 2019 - Logbuk

• Lecture "AAC in progressive diseases using the example of ALS" at the specialist congress for AAC in Leipzig, (Nov. 2019)
• Workshop "Non-electronic aids in everyday clinical practice (focus on early rehabilitation)" at the specialist congress for UK in Leipzig, (Nov. 2019)
• Internal training at the Evangelical Hospital Oldenburg (interdisciplinary early rehabilitation team) on the topic of AAC in ALS (2019)
• Internal training course at the Evangelical Hospital Oldenburg (interdisciplinary early rehabilitation team) on the introduction to AAC (annual)
• Internal training course at Oldenburg Protestant Hospital on AAC in a clinical context for the social services team (Dec. 2020)
• Internal training course at Oldenburg Protestant Hospital on AAC in a clinical context for the team from the neurology medical service (March 2020)
• Specialist article Assisted Calling with means and methods of AAC in the forum patient-provider-communication (online, Dec. 2020) Link see publication Hennig (2020)
• Workshop "Hello, is anyone there? Tips for assisting with (video) telephone calls between non-speaking patients and their relatives in a clinical context." at the 2nd Freiburg Symposium on Augmentative and Alternative Communication in the Clinic (April 2021)
• Contribution to the online platformwww.qualitaetsoffensive-teilhabe.de(focus on communication, 2021)

Hennig-Mouihate, Birgit (2005). Resonance and contingency as elements of early dialogue experiences and their relevance for working with severely disabled children. In: Boenisch, Jens & Otto, Karen (eds.). Life in dialogue. Augmentative and Alternative Communication across the lifespan. Karlsruhe: von Loeper, 77-94

Hennig, Birgit (2008). Playful dialogue design with children with severe multiple disabilities - promoting communicative skills right from the start. In: Leyendecker, Christoph (ed.). Acting together instead of treating. Tasks and perspectives of complex early intervention services. Munich: Ernst Reinhardt, 185-192

Droste Edith & Hennig, Birgit (2009). From encounter to dialogue. An approach to the experiences of children with severe disabilities and life-shortening illnesses. In: DKHV e.V. (ed.) Leben mit Grenzen. Contributions to children's hospice work. DKHV e.V. publication series, vol. 2, Wuppertal: der Hospizverlag, 90-98

Hennig, Birgit (2010). Progressive disorders with loss of spoken language in childhood - what role does communication support play? In: Leyendecker, Ch. (ed.). Childhood at risk. Recognising risks early, promoting resources early. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer, 193-202

Hennig, Birgit (2010).Experience report and reflections on questions of inclusion of physically disabled children in early intervention. In: Jennessen, Sven, Lelgemann, Reinhard, Ortland, Barbara & Schlüter, Martina (eds.) Leben mit einer Körperbehinderung - Perspektiven der Inklusion. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer, 65-70

Hennig, Birgit (2011). "The juggling act" - Complex challenges in communicating with children with multiple disabilities. In: Journal of Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 16th Vol. (1), 26-28

Hennig, Birgit (2011) Interaction and communication between people with severe disabilities and their carers - aspects of success. In: Fröhlich, A.; Heinen, N.; Klauß, Th.; Lamers, W. (eds.). Severe and multiple disabilities interdisciplinary. Oberhausen: Athena, pp. 273-297

Gebhard, Britta; Hennig; Birgit & Leyendecker; Christoph (eds.) (2012). Interdisciplinary early intervention. Exclusive-cooperative-inclusive. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer

Hennig, Birgit; Mischo, Susanne; Schlütken, Helena & Kunert, Johanna (2013). AAC in the community using the example of the pharmacy. In: Hallbauer, Angela; Hallbauer, Thomas & Hüning-Meier, Monika (eds.). UK creative! Pathways in augmentative and alternative communication. Karlsruhe: von Loeper, pp. 444-458

Hennig, Birgit (2014). Augmentative and Alternative Communication and MPS, Part 1, in Rundbrief MPS, February 2014, pp. 52-56

Böti, Anikó; Erdélyi, Andrea; Havasi, Ágnes; Hennig, Birgit; Kálmán, Zsófia; Lay-Weber, Daniela; Lukács, Szandra; Mede, Perla; Mischo, Susanne; Radványi, Katalin; Schlünz, Gabriela; Szaffner, Gyula; Thümmel, Ingeborg (2015). Barriers and support factors in the (inclusive) schooling of hardly- and non-speaking pupils from the perspective of German and Hungarian teachers, educators and school counsellors. In: Leonhardt, Annette; Müller, Katharina & Truckenbrodt; Tilly (eds.). The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Implementation. Contributions to intercultural and international comparative special needs education. Bad Heilbrunn: Klinkhardt, pp. 153-161

Hennig, Birgit & Gebhard, Britta (2015). Challenges of school reintegration after traumatic brain injury: a qualitative survey of pupils, parents and teachers on the organisation of the transition from the rehabilitation clinic to the mainstream school system. In: Empirische Sonderpädagogik, 7th vol. (2), 135-152, open access available online at: www.psychologie-aktuell.com/fileadmin/download/esp/2-2015_20150521/esp_2-2015_135-152.pdf

Mischo, Susanne; Hennig, Birgit & Erdélyi, Andrea (2016). AAC in the community using the example of the pharmacy - a research report. In: Journal for Curative Education, 67th vol. (12), 532-544

Erdélyi, Andrea; Hennig, Birgit; Mischo, Susanne & Werthmann, Annette (2016). UKAPO. Augmentative and Alternative Communication in the pharmacy. The communication board for doctors and pharmacies. Bad Zwischenahn: Medienhaus Rösemeier

Hennig, Birgit (2017). Dementia in childhood - a meaningful construct of the conceptual definition? In: Sappok, T. & Lindmeier, B. (eds.). Dementia with intellectual disability. Documentation of the DGSGB symposium on 4 November 2016 in Kassel, Materials of the DGSGB, Vol. 38, Berlin: DGSGB's own publishing house, 60-70

Available online at: dgsgb.de/volumes/978-3-938931-39-4/978-3-938931-39-4.pdf

Hennig, Birgit; Erdélyi, Andrea & Siemer, Ina (2017). AAC for neurological disorders. In: Keller, Ch. (ed.) Specialist care. Non-clinical intensive care. Munich: Urban & Fischer, 357- 362

Hennig, Birgit; Erdélyi, Andrea & Groß, Martin (2017). AAC as an interdisciplinary field of work in the clinical context. Evaluation of a pilot project. In: Lage, D. & Ling, K. (eds.). AAC speaks many languages. Connections between language diversity and participation. Karlsruhe: von Loeper, 139-153

Hennig, Birgit (2017). Interaction and communication with severely disabled children: Fundamentals, goals and practice of systematic support. In: Language support and speech therapy, 6th vol. (4), 257-264

Hennig, Birgit (2017). Augmentative and Alternative Communication in the context of paediatric and youth hospice work. In: German Children's Hospice Association e.V. (ed.). Community as an experience and link. Publication series of the German Children's Hospice Association (DKHV) e.V., vol. 7, Esslingen: der hospiz verlag, pp. 199- 204

Erdélyi, Andrea, Mischo, Susanne & Hennig, Birgit (2018). UKAPO- The communication board for doctor and pharmacy. In: Journal for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 23rd Vol. (2), pp. 27-30

Hennig, Birgit (2018). Birgit Hennig. Interview/ Answers from practice. In: Journal for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 23rd Vol. (4), pp. 6-7

Hennig, Birgit (2019). Movement as a basis for communication and alternatives to spoken language. In: Schlesselmann, Elke (ed.). Movement and mobility promotion. Practical handbook for care and health professions. Göttingen: Hogrefe, pp.215-225

Erdélyi, Andrea & Hennig, Birgit (2019). AAC in the healthcare sector. In: Boenisch, J. & Sachse, S. (eds.). Compendium of Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Stuttgart: Kohlhammer, 304-313

Hennig, Birgit (2019). An alphabet board is an alphabet board is an alphabet board? Hints and tips for the selection and use of alphabet boards. In: Journal for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 24th Vol. (4), pp. 6-13

Erdélyi, A., Hennig, B., Mischo, S., Methodenzentrum Unterstützte Kommunikation gUG (ed.) (2019). UK Care ©. Oldenburg: flyerheaven

Hennig, Birgit & Erdélyi, Andrea (2020). Augmentative and alternative communication. In: Groß, M. (ed.). Neurological respiratory medicine. In the intensive care unit, in early rehabilitation, in the sleep laboratory, at home. Berlin: Springer, pp. 429-439

Hennig, Birgit, Gebhard, Britta, Hinrichs, Richard & Reutlinger, Constanze (2020). An explorative study on the school trajectories after moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. In: The Rehabilitation, 59th vol. (3), 166-173

Hennig, Birgit (2020). Pro-active strategies and augmentative and alternative communication in the therapy and support of children and adolescents with neuro-degenerative diseases. In: Language support and speech therapy, 9th vol. (3), 164-170

Hennig, Birgit (2020). A guideline for assisted (video-)calling for patients using alternative means and methods of communication in the clinical context. Paper available online at: A guideline for assisted (video-)calling for patients using alternative means and methods of communication in the clinical context (Patient-Provider Communication Network) (2.01.2021)

Hennig, Birgit (2021). AAC with assistive devices. In: Groß, M., Demmer, T. (eds.). interdisciplinary palliative medicine. Berlin: Springer, 269-274

Note: Publication of selected specialist articles and materials also on the website www.uk-im-blick.de

4. literature lists on key topics

Below you will find thematically organised literature lists on my main areas of teaching and examination areas. Please note: The literature lists are primarily for orientation purposes and, although updated, do not claim to be complete. If you do your own research - which is strongly recommended - you may find other authors, current new publications and/or other approaches to your topic!

1. People with complex impairments (multiple disabilities, severe disabilities), as of January 2018
2. Rehabilitation and pedagogy after acquired brain injury in childhood, as of February 2012
3. P2: Didactics gE/kmE; preparation for the school internship, as of September 2012
4. MM 8: Acquisition of written language kmE/gE, as of September 2012
5. Picture books Lessons
6. Life goes on - living with ALS (annotated literature and link list for those affected and relatives)