Dr Ruud Hendriks (R.P.J.)
Ruud Hendriks is at the Department of Philosophy of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Maastricht University. His research is focusing on artistic and technique-based interventions in/ representations of mental health care. Combining ethnographic work in health care practices and philosophical reflection he has published on normative aspects of clowning in dementia care and socio-cultural perspectives on autistic spectrum disorders. His current research (with Ike Kamphof) looks at imaginaries of nature in psychogeriatric care.
The ZonMW project 'Make-believe matters' (with Ike Kamphof and Tsjalling Swierstra; 2016-2018) focussed on the moral role of low and high tech interventions with an aspect of make-believe in person centred dementia care (sociable robots, virtual reality, door stickers, dementia friendly design, etc.)
In the ZonMW project 'Beyond autonomy and language' (with Annette Hendrikx, Ike Kamphof, Aagje Swinnen, 2010-2013) Ruud focussed on artistic interventions in psychogeriatric care, and elder-clowning in particular.
Other research interests comprise: dance with people with Parkinson disease and sociocultural perspectives on autism spectrum disorder. He has collaborated with Wiebe Bijker and Roland Bal in a project on the Health Council of the Netherlands and the role of scientific expert advice in democracies.
Some recent international publications :
Hendriks, R. (2023). Clothing the clown. Creative dressing in a day-center for people with dementia in the Netherlands. Medical Anthropology, 42(8), 771-786. doi: 1080/01459740.2023.2263808
Kamphof, I., & Hendriks, R. (2020). Beyond façade: Home making and truthfulness in dementia care. In: B. Pasveer, O. Synnes, & I. Moser (Eds.), Ways of Home Making in Care for Later Life (pp. 271-292). Palgrave Macmillan.
Hendriks, R.P.J. (2012). Tackling Indifference-Clowning, Dementia, and the Articulation of a Sensitive Body. Medical Anthropology. Cross-Cultural Studies in Health and Illness, 31, 459-476. doi: 10.1080/01459740.2012.674991
Hendriks, R. (2012). Autistic Company. Amsterdam/ New York: Rodopi.
Before joining the Philosophy department, Ruud has worked as a care worker in mental health care and studied health sciences. Ruud holds a PhD in Cultuurwetenschappen from Maastricht University (2000).
Expertises
Keywords
- Arts and artifice in mental health care
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Clowning in dementia care
- Dance and Parkinson disease
- Dementia
- Disability studies
- Ethical and scientific policy advice
- Ethnography
- Health Council of the Netherlands
- Science and technology studie
Career history
Educational Background
2000, PhD, Faculty of Arts and Culture, Universiteit Maastricht, the Netherlands (Supervisor Prof dr. ir. G.H. de Vries). PhD dissertation Autistisch gezelschap [Autistic company].
1995, qualification Netherlands Graduate School in Science and Technology Studies
1992, undergraduate degree in Health sciences, specialization Theory of Health sciences [Drs Gezondheidswetenschappen], Universiteit Maastricht, the Netherlands
Other (non-academic)
2008, certificate miMakkus clown [certificaat miMakkus clown], Stichting miMakkus, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
1985, nursing license, specialization mental handicaps [diploma Z-verpleegkundige] Stichting GEMIVA, Zoeterwoude, the Netherlands
Current Position
Assistent professor [Universitair docent], Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts and Social sciences (former Faculty of Arts and Culture), Universiteit Maastricht, the Netherlands (from September 1997)
Projectleader 'Voorbij autonomie en taal- naar een Disability Studies' pespectief op dementie', participating in Knowledge network Disability Studies in Nederland
Previous Experience
2000-2002, postdoctoral researcher, Faculty of Arts and Culture, Universiteit Maastricht
09/96-09/97, teacher [Docent], Faculty of Arts and Culture, Universiteit Maastricht
09/92-09/96, PhD candidate [Assistent in Opleiding], Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts and Culture, Universiteit Maastricht
03/92-09/92, research assistant, Faculty of General sciences, Rijksuniversiteit Limburg, the Netherlands
09/91-12/91, research internship, Centre de Sociologie de l’Innovation, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris, France
1981-1987, care worker, specialization people with autism spectrum disorders and mental handicaps, Stichting GEMIVA, Zoeterwoude, the Netherlands