Jørn Østvik

Jørn Østvik is an Associate Professor at the Department of Mental Health within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at NTNU. His research focuses on disability studies, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), social relationships, inclusive education, and mental health among people with disabilities. He leads the 'Communication, interaction, and early intervention in a life course perspective' research group (since 2021) and is a member of Citizen Network Norway and ISAAC Research Committee.

Education: PhD in Health Sciences (NTNU, 2017), Cand.polit in Psychology (NTNU, 1996). Prior roles include R&D Advisor at Statped (2016–2018) and scholarship holder at NTNU's Department of Public Health and Nursing (2013–2017). He has extensive experience in AAC research, early intervention, and inclusive education policies.

Research interests include AAC implementation, mental health assessment for AAC users, citizenship among people with disabilities, and pathways to employment for students with disabilities. Current projects involve collaborations with Jönköping University, Melbourne University, and The Research Council of Norway.

Teaching responsibilities include courses on psychology, pedagogy, and AAC communication in mental health programs. He actively supervises bachelor, master, and PhD students. Notable publications address AAC user marginalization, friendship dynamics in schools, and inclusive education policies in Norway.