Deborah Lutz

Deborah Lutz is a Professor of Inclusive Education at the Catholic University of Applied Sciences Freiburg, Germany, and Director of the B.A. Inclusive Education Study Program. Her research focuses on intellectual disability, communication support needs, disability policies, and inclusive research methods. She holds a PhD supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award and has extensive international experience in disability research and practice.

Key Roles:

• Editorial Board Member of Research and Practice in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (since 2023)
• Editorial Board Member of QfI-Qualifizierung für Inklusion (2019–2023)
• Research Consultant for DiaLOG-IN project (Berlin, 2019–2023)

Research Interests: Explores disability policies, support/care relationships, and ethical methodologies in ethnographic research. Advocates for participatory approaches involving people with disabilities in research design and implementation.

Awards:

• 2015 Dean’s Award for Research Society Impact (UNSW)
• 2014 APA + Faculty Scholarship for PhD

Professional Background: Previously held roles including Post-doctoral Research Fellow at Goethe-University Frankfurt (2019–2023), Research Associate in Baden-Württemberg (2018–2019), and various social work and disability support positions in Germany and Australia from 2010–2018.