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 work which increases the opportunity for women 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. & Bray, A. (2007). Meeting the primary health needs of adults with an intellectual disability. Practice Nurse Journal, (February), 34-39.
  • Johnson, H., Henaghan, M., & Mirfin-Veitch, B. (In press). The experiences of parents with an intellectual disability within the New Zealand Family Court System. New Zealand Family Law Journal.
  • 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.

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 & 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., and Conder, J. (2006). Dunedin Public Hospital Paediatric Department Seminar Series. "Protecting children - strengthening families: When a parent has an intellectual disability - Outcomes for children." 26 October, Dunedin.
  • Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2006). European Congress of 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. (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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