Donald Beasley Institute for research and education on intellectual disability.

Biography for Brigit Mirfin-Veitch

Photo of Brigit Mirfin-Veitch.

Dr Brigit Mirfin-Veitch is Director of the Donald Beasley Institute and has been a member of the team since 1994. Brigit has a strong interest in deinstitutionalization and her doctoral research focussed on understanding families' experiences of the closure of a large hospital based residential facility for people with intellectual disabilities.

Brigit has also conducted research in the area of health education with women with intellectual disabilities and has a commitment to research which increases the opportunity for all people with intellectual disabilities to have better access to health information.

Brigit's current research focus is on the experiences of parents who have intellectual disabilities and she has an active involvement in this issue at a local, national and international level. Previously she has been involved in research which has explored family relationships, family dynamics, and support issues in families including adults or children with disabilities.

Publications

Peer reviewed journal articles

  • Conder, J. Milner, P. & Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2011). Reflections on a participatory approach: The rewards and challenges for the lead researchers. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 36 (1), 39-48.
  • Conder, J., Mirfin-Veitch, B., Sanders, J. & Munford, R. (2010). Planned pregnancy, planned parenthood: Enabling choice for adults with learning disabilities. British Journal of Learning Disabilities. doi:10.1111/j.1468-3156.2010.00625.x
  • Conder, J., Mirfin-Veitch, B., Sanders, J. & Munford, R. (2008). "I've got to think of him": Relationships between parents with an intellectual disability and foster parents. Developing Practice: The Child, Youth and Family Work Journal. 21, Winter.
  • Munford, R., Sanders, J., Mirfin-Veitch, B., & Conder, J. (2008). Ethics and research: Searching for ethical practice in research. Ethics and Social Welfare, 2(1), 50-66.
  • Munford, R., Sanders, J., Mirfin-Veitch, B., & Conder, J. (2008). Looking inside the bag of tools: Creating research encounters for people with learning disabilities. Disability & Society, 23(4), 334-347.
  • Conder, J. & Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2008). Giving and receiving personal care: What does it mean for clients and carers? Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand, 14(10), pp. 20-22.
  • Conder, J., Mirfin-Veitch, B. & Bray, A. (2007). Meeting the primary health needs of adults with an intellectual disability. Practice Nurse Journal, pp34-39. February.
  • Johnston, H., Henaghan, M. & Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2007). The experiences of parents with an intellectual disability within the New Zealand Family Court System. New Zealand Family Law Journal, 5(9), pp. 226-236.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B., Bray, A., & Ross, N. (2003). "It was the hardest and most painful decision of my life!" Seeking permanent out-of-home placement for sons and daughters with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability. 28(2), 99-111.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B., Bray, A., Williams, S., Clarkson, J. & Belton, A. (1999). Supporting parents with intellectual disabilities. New Zealand Journal of Disability Studies, 6, 60-74.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. & Bray, A. (1997). "We're just that sort of family": Intergenerational relationships in families including children with disabilities. Family Relations: Journal of Applied Family and Child Studies, 46(3), 305-311.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B., Bray, D.A., & Watson, M. (1996). They really do care: Grandparents as informal support sources for families of children with disabilities. New Zealand Journal of Disability Studies, 2, 136-148.

Peer reviewed books, book chapters, books edited

  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2010). Citizenship and community participation. (pp. 95-106). In Llewellyn, G., Traustadottir, R., McConnell, D. & Sigurjonsdottir, H.B. (Eds) Parents with Intellectual Disabilities: Past, Present and Futures. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. & Ballard, K. (2005). Says who? Supporting participation in disability research. In P. O'Brien and M. Sullivan (Eds). Allies in emancipation: Shifting from providing service to being of support. (pp. 189-198). Palmerston North: Dunmore Press.
  • Hunter, A., Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2005). I've been in hospital all my life. In K. Johnson and R. Traustadottir (Eds). Deinstitutionalisation and people with intellectual disability. (pp. 85-92). London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2005). Dislocation: Deinstitutionalisation in the lives of families of people with an intellectual disability. (Doctoral Thesis, University of Otago).
  • Bray, A. & Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2003). Research involving families with a disabled member. In R. Munford and J. Sanders (Eds). Making a difference: Research and families, (pp. 74-92). NSW, Australia: Allen & Unwin.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. & Bray, A. (1997). Grandparents: Part of the Family. In B. Carpenter (Ed). Families in Context: Emerging trends in family support and early intervention. (pp. 76-88). London: David Fulton Publishers.

Refereed conference proceedings

  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2010). "He's like a brother to me" - Friendships and relationships in residential group homes. Paper presented at the "No One Alone" Conference, Auckland, September.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2010). Critical transitions in the journey to parenthood and beyond for people with intellectual disability. Invited Keynote Address at the "Transitions, Perspective and Practices" Conference, New Zealand Association for the Study of Intellectual Disability, Dunedin, August.
  • Conder, J., Gates, S., & Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2010). Maintaining the mental health and wellbeing of women with intellectual disability through life transitions. Paper presented at the "Transitions, Perspective and Practices" Conference, New Zealand Association for the Study of Intellectual Disability, Dunedin, August.
  • Evans-Turner, T., Milner, P., Gates, S., Mirfin-Veitch, B., & Higgins, N. (2010). The Maslach Burnout Inventory and its relationship with staff transition in and out of the intellectual disability workforce. Paper presented at the "Transitions, Perspective and Practices" Conference, New Zealand Association for the Study of Intellectual Disability, Dunedin, August.
  • Raffensperger, M., Miller, J., & Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2010). A rewarding but complex practice environment. Paper presented to the Pacific Counselling Hui, September.
  • Home, A., Carter, I. & Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2009) Parenting and disability: International perspectives on parent need and community response. CASWE/ACFTS Conference, Ottawa, May.

Other forms of dissemination

  • Conder, J., Milner, P., Mirfin-Veitch, B., & Schumeyer, D. (2009). The Great Life Project. A Report prepared for IHC/IDEA Services by the Donald Beasley Institute in collaboration with the IHC Self Advocacy Advisory Committee.
  • Milner, P., Gates, S., Mirfin-Veitch, B., & Stewart, C. (2008). An examination of the outcome of the resettlement of residents from the Kimberley Centre. Dunedin: Donald Beasley Institute.
  • Gates, S., Stewart, C., Milner, P., Mirfin-Veitch, B. & Schumayer, D. (2008). The impact of deinstitutionalisation on the staff of the Kimberley Centre Residents. Dunedin: Donald Beasley Institute.
  • Stewart, C., Gates, S., Milner, P., Mirfin-Veitch, B. & Schumayer, D. (2008). The impact of deinstitutionalisation on the families of the Kimberley Centre Residents. Dunedin: Donald Beasley Institute.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B., Bray, A., Stewart, C., Sharp, S., Cleland, G., Kelly, B., Siataga, P., Kirk, R. & Hogan, S. (2006). Evaluation of intersectoral disability needs assessment and service coordination trials. (212 pages). Dunedin: Donald Beasley Institute.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2003). Education for adults with an intellectual disability (including transition to adulthood). Review of the literature prepared for the National Advisory Committee on Health and Disability to inform its project on service for adults with an intellectual disability. Wellington: National Health Committee.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2003). Income for adults with an intellectual disability. Review of the literature prepared for the National Advisory Committee on Health and Disability to inform its project on service for adults with an intellectual disability. Wellington: National Health Committee.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2003). Relationships and adults with an intellectual disability. Review of the literature prepared for the National Advisory Committee on Health and Disability to inform its project on service for adults with an intellectual disability. Wellington: National Health Committee.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2001). Taking More Control of our Health. A Health Education guide for women. Dunedin: Donald Beasley Institute.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B., Ross, N. & Bray, A. (2000). Templeton resettlement family experiences project: Preliminary report ­ Phase two. Dunedin: Donald Beasley Institute.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B., Ross, N. & Bray, A. (1998). Templeton resettlement family experiences project: Preliminary report ­ Phase one. Dunedin: Donald Beasley Institute.

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