Etta Wilken

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Etta Wilken (* 1943 ; born Etta Müller ) is professor emeritus for general and integrative education for the disabled at the Institute for Special Education at Leibniz University in Hanover .

Life

Etta Wilken was a teacher at an elementary school with Förderstufe and Realschulzug before the head of a special school for physically disabled and mentally handicapped was appointed children in Göttingen. Later, she was Assistant Professor in the language special education at today's Leibniz University of Hanover, was elected Dr. phil. doctorate and then worked as an academic adviser in general education for the disabled. Finally, she was appointed professor for general and integrative education for the disabled at Leibniz University in Hanover.

Services

Etta Wilken's research and work focuses are:

Etta Wilken is best known for her research on the advancement of children with Down syndrome. In this area it is the leader in Germany.

Etta Wilken developed sign-assisted communication , GuK for short , around 1999 . With the help of standardized signs, communication with their caregivers is to be made easier for children who are severely delayed in speech development.

Examples:

  • "Drink": turning the right fist in front of the mouth.
  • "Ball": An imaginary round ball is formed in the air with both hands.

In the meantime two sets of these sign cards with 100 terms each have been published in the 7th revised edition.

Signs are learned quickly by many children with speech impairments. If the ability to speak improves later, the child stops using the signs. This method is scientifically proven. A large number of empirical surveys have shown that GuK not only improves communication, but also promotes language acquisition.

In addition, Etta Wilken is also involved in numerous publications for disabled children. In many seminars that take place regularly, she still gives parents of children with Down syndrome practical help.

Honors

On her 60th birthday, Etta Wilken was honored with the festival publication “Parents with Disabled Children”, published by Udo Wilken and Barbara Jeltsch-Schudel, Kohlhammer-Verlag, Stuttgart 2003.

In 2004 she was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit with ribbon .

Works (selection)

  • Language promotion in children with Down syndrome. With a detailed description of the GuK system. 13th updated edition. Kohlhammer-Verlag, Stuttgart 2019, ISBN 978-3-17-021293-0 .
  • as Ed .: Supported Communication. 5th, expanded and revised edition. Kohlhammer-Verlag, Stuttgart 2018, ISBN 978-3-17-032974-4 .
  • Children and adolescents with Down syndrome. Promotion and participation. Kohlhammer-Verlag, Stuttgart 2017, ISBN 978-3-17-028437-1 .
  • GuK 1 - basic vocabulary and GuK 2 - advanced vocabulary. German Down Syndrome InfoCenter, 7th edition, Lauf ad Pegnitz 2016.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Issue 49 of the Down Syndrome Info Center, p. 6. (PDF file; 1.77 MB)
personal data
SURNAME Wilken, Etta
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Müller, Etta (maiden name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German special education teacher
DATE OF BIRTH 1943