Gregor Renner

Gregor Renner is a Professor of Special Education and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) at the Catholic University of Applied Sciences Freiburg, where he has worked since 2008. He also serves as the Head of the BA Program in Inclusive Education and is a member of the Baden-Württemberg Center of Applied Research (BW-CAR). His research focuses on the intersection of disability, social participation, and assistive technology, particularly for individuals with complex communication needs.

• Key organizational roles: President of ISAAC (2015–2018), Spokesperson for BW-CAR's research area "Education - Socialization - Inclusion"
• Expertise in AAC theory, diagnostic tools, and communication aid design
• International collaborations across 12 countries and 20+ universities

His work aligns with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the WHO ICF framework, emphasizing digital accessibility, workplace inclusion, and technological empowerment for people with disabilities. Renner has conducted extensive studies on mainstream technology adoption in disability care facilities using the NASSS framework.

Research trends across his publications include:

• Augmentative and Alternative Communication systems
• Assistive Technology evaluation and implementation
• Digital inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities
• Co-construction of meaning in AAC interactions
• Usability studies for communication aids
• Impact of mainstream technologies on participation

Renner's international partnerships span institutions in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the Netherlands, the UK, and the USA. He has also contributed to theoretical models in AAC and analyzed the social impact of digital technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic on disability communities.