Sophia BAESCH

Sophia’s doctoral research investigates experiences of students with norm-divergent Health and Care Needs at school, through a Critical Case Study focusing on children and youth attending schools where German is the/one language of instruction. Education systems in Central European majoritarian German-speaking countries are highly tiered and compartmentalised regarding Disability and Special Educational Needs (SEN); school nursing services are not comprehensively institutionalised (yet). Sophia is using multi-modal story sharing techniques to explore how students experience support for Complex/Special Health Care Needs and chronic illness under these circumstances.

Prior to her PhD-studies she has been teaching in mainstream and Special Education schools in Vienna (Austria), particularly focusing on students with Complex and/or multiple Disabilities. Her experience of working in the (residential) care and education sectors in Germany, Kyrgyzstan and Austria have shaped and informed her teaching and research practice. Sophia holds a teaching degree for secondary education in Psychology and Philosophy, as well as Disability and Inclusive Pedagogy from the University of Vienna. She has an MEd in Inclusive Education from the University of Glasgow, UK. 

Experiences of Students with (Complex) Health Care Needs at School: Exploring current practices [across German-speaking countries] trough qualitative case study research to facilitate inclusion