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

Articles in Peer Reviewed Journals

  • 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), 20-22.
  • Conder, J., Mirfin-Veitch, B. & Bray, A. (2007). Meeting the primary health needs of adults with an intellectual disability. Practice Nurse Journal, (February), 34-39.
  • 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.
  • 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 Law Journal, 5(9), 226-236.
  • Milner, P., Gates, S., Mirfin-Veitch, B. & Stewart, C. (2008). An examination of the outcome of the resettlement of residents from the Kimberley Centre: Short Report. Dunedin: Donald Beasley Institute Inc.
  • 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., & Watson, M. (1996). "They really do care": Grandparents as informal support sources for families of children with disabilities. NZ Journal of Disability Studies, 2, 136-148.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B., Bray, A., & Watson, M. (1997). "We're just that sort of family" Intergenerational relationships in families including children with disabilities. Family Relations, 46(3), 305-311.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B., Bray, A., Williams, S., Clarkson, J., & Belton, A. (1999). Supporting parents with intellectual disabilities. NZ Journal of Disability Studies, 6, 60-74.
  • Munford, R., Mirfin-Veitch, B. & Sanders, J. (2008). Looking inside the bag of tools: Creating research encounters for people with learning disabilities. Disability & Society, 23 (4), 337-347.
  • 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.
  • Stewart, C., Gates, S., Milner, P., Mirfin-Veitch, B. & Schumayer, D. (2008). The impact of deinstitutionalisation on the families of the Kimberley Centre Residents. Donald Beasley Institute Inc.

Books and Book Chapters

  • Bray, A. & Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2003). Research Involving Families with a disabled member. In R. Munford & J. Sanders (Eds). Making a Difference: Research and Families. Pp 74-92. Australia: Allen & Unwin.
  • 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 disabilities: In and Out of Institutions (pp. 85-92). London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (In Press). Citizenship and community participation in the lives of parents with an intellectual disability. In G Llewellyn, R Traustadottir, R, D McConnell & H B Sigurjonsdottir. (Eds). Parents with intellectual disabilities and their children: Living and learning in the community. Chichester: 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).

Reports and other publications

  • Milner, P., Mirfin-Veitch, B., Stewart, C., Gates, S., Bray, A., Sharp, S., & McDonald, T. (2005). Kimberley Research Project Phase 1 Preliminary Report (191 pages). Dunedin: Donald Beasley Institute.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2005). Dislocation: Deinstitutionalisation in the lives of families of people with an intellectual disability. (Unpublished Doctoral Thesis).
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B., Bray, A., Stewart, C., Sharp, S., Cleland, G. Kelly, B. Siataga, P, Kirk, R. & Hogan, R. (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. (Report prepared for the National Health Committee). Wellington: National Health Committee.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2003). Income for adults with an intellectual disability.). Review of the literature. (Report prepared for the National Health Committee). Wellington: National Health Committee.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2003). Relationships and adults with an intellectual disability. Review of the literature. (Report prepared for the National Health Committee). Wellington: National Health Committee.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2001). Taking More Control of our Health. A Health Education guide for women. Dunedin: Donald Beasley Institute. (151 pages).

Other forms of Dissemination (including Conference and Seminar presentations)

  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2008). Sociological Association Aotearoa New Zealand Annual Conference Dunedin.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2008). NZ Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disability Annual Conference, Wellington.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2007). NZ Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disability Annual Conference, Wellington.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2007). Invited Presenter, Workshop on working with parents with disability, Child Youth and Family (CYF), Dunedin.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2007). Invited Presenter, Parenting by people with an intellectual disability, Families Commission, Wellington.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B., and Conder, J. (2006). Protecting children - strengthening families: When a parent has an intellectual disability - Outcomes for children. Dunedin Public Hospital Paediatric Department Seminar Series. 26 October, Dunedin.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2006). Invited presenter, Outcomes for children of parents with an intellectual disability, Paediatrics Department, Otago University
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2006). European Congress of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disability. "Exploring the support needs of New Zealand fathers who have an intellectual disability." 2-4 August, Maastricht, Netherlands.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B., and Conder, J. (2006). "Protecting children - strengthening families: When a parent has an intellectual disability - A selection of preliminary findings". Donald Beasley Seinar Series, 18 August, Dunedin.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2006). National Residential Intellectual Disability Providers (NRID) Conference. "The importance of relationships: who is supporting whom?" Invited Keynote Presentation, 19-21 July, Dunedin.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B., (2006). National Residential Intellectual Disability Providers (NRID) Conference. "Supporting parents who have an intellectual disability - Practical strategies for support workers". 19-21 July, Dunedin.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2006). National Residential Intellectual Disability Providers (NRID) Conference. "The importance of relationships: who is supporting whom?" Keynote Presentation, 19-21 July, Dunedin.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2006). "Well my brother means a lot to me. Understanding the views and experiences of siblings of people who have an intellectual disability". Donald Beasley Institute seminar series, November.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2006). Donald Beasley Institute - Current Research and Future Directions. Paper presented to the Habilitation, Rehabilitation and Disability Research Collective, University of Otago, December, Dunedin.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B., and Conder, J. (2005). Australasian Conference of the Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disability. "Protecting children - strengthening families: When a parent has an intellectual disability - Research in progress." 10-13 October, Auckland.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2005). "Well my brother means a lot to me." Understanding the views and experiences of siblings of people who have an intellectual disability. Australasian Conference of the Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disability, 10-13 October, 2005, Auckland, NZ.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2004). Intimate and Personal Care - Research in progress. CCS Regional Conference, Dunedin, 2004.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2003). "Doing disability research", NZASSID Conference, Auckland.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2003). CCS Regional Conference, Dunedin.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2003). Children's Issues Conference University of Otago.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2001). "Breaking down the barriers: Achieving equity in health for people with intellectual disability" at Public Health New Zealand (PHA) Conference, A Fair go. Achieving Equity in Health: Auckland, 4-6 July.

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