Heidi Omdal

Heidi Omdal is a Professor of Special Education at the University of Agder’s Department of Education. She previously held positions as Associate Professor (2010–2021) and PhD Fellow (2001–2006). Her work focuses on selective mutism, capacity-building in early childhood education, and interprofessional collaboration in child welfare. Omdal has authored influential books such as When the Child Does Not Speak and co-edited Ulike profesjoner, felles mål. She has published extensively in journals like Journal of Educational Change and European Early Childhood Education Research Journal. Her research emphasizes practical interventions and systemic reforms to support children with special needs.

Education:

• PhD in Special Education, University of Oslo (2009)
• MSc in Special Education, University of Oslo (2000)
• Preschool Teacher Qualifications, Agder University College (1996)

Research Interests:

• Selective mutism diagnosis and intervention
• Capacity-building in ECEC institutions
• Interprofessional collaboration across education, healthcare, and social services
• Educational leadership and policy

Key Contributions:

• Developed frameworks for authoritative adult-child interactions
• Advocated for systemic support for children with communication disorders
• Guided over 20 academic publications on inclusive education practices

Labs/Teams: Active in the Children’s Welfare and Upbringing research group at UiA, focusing on community-school-kindergarten collaboration.