Oliver Wendt

Adjunct Associate Professor

Department of Human Development and Family Science

External Organization/Employer

University of Potsdam

Areas of Expertise

Autism Spectrum Disorder
Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
Assistive Technology
Digital Health
Mobile Applications
Research Entrepreneurship
Intervention
Single-Case Experimental Design
Meta-Analysis and Research Synthesis

HHS Signature Research Area(s)

Developmental Health and Wellness
Healthy Lifestyles and Vital Longevity

Department of Human Development and Family Science Research Area(s)

Early Childhood Education and Care
Health and Well-Being

Biography

Oliver Wendt is Kontos Faculty Scholar in the Center for Families at Purdue University. He also holds appointments as Professor and Chair of Cognitive and Emotional Disabilities at the University of Potsdam, Germany, and as Research Associate with the Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Dr. Wendt is co-founder and Chief Science Officer of SPEAK Abilities, LLP, a deep technology, Purdue company for digital health applications.

His research focuses on advancing the acquisition of speech, language, and social communication skills among minimally speaking individuals with autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). A defining feature of Dr. Wendt’s research program is its emphasis on translating scientific innovation into scalable, real-world solutions with measurable impact. His lab’s technology development and commercialization efforts have produced the award-winning SPEAK*** suite of digital health tools to enhance AAC interventions for individuals with severe communication needs.

Dr. Wendt is a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and serves as Editor for the Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, and the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research (Language Section). He is also first editor of the textbook “Assistive Technology: Principles and Applications for Communication Disorders and Special Education”.

Education

PhD, 2006, Purdue University, Transdisciplinary Augmentative and Alternative Communication Doctoral Program
MS, 2000, University of Cologne, Rehabilitation Sciences
MA, 1998, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Special Education
BS, 1996, University of Cologne, Education & Psychology

Websites

Social Media Accounts

Selected Honors/Awards

Fellow, American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association
Family Tree Award, Center for Families, Purdue University
Distinguished Service Award, Organization for Autism Research
Outstanding Research of the Year Award, Autism Society of America
Autism Hero Award, Entrepreneurial Category, Anna Kennedy Online Charity
Milken Family Foundation Grand Prize, Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition
Edison Innovation Award - Gold, Language Learning Products, Edison Universe Organization
Best of Education Tech Award, TechPoint Initiative Mira Awards
Kontos Faculty Fellowship, Center for Families, Purdue University

Selected Grants

Co-Principal Investigator, Effects of augmentative and alternative communication interventions on speech production in individuals with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities: A systematic review and meta-analysis (R41: Autism Secondary Data Analysis Research Program). Schlosser (PI). (2019-2021)
Principal Investigator, Evaluation of multi-device synchronization to extend speech therapy from the clinic into the home for children with autism in Northeast Indiana (AWS Foundation). Zentner (Co-PI). (2017-2018)
Principal Investigator, Integrated framework for simultaneous generative language training and progress tracking for minimally verbal children with autism (R43 DC015422-01). Zentner (Co-PI). (2016-2017)