Associate Professor Brigit Mirfin-Veitch, Our people, University of Otago, Christchurch, University of Otago, New Zealand

Research Associate Professor

BA(Hons) PhD

Associate Professor Brigit Mirfin-Veitch is a Research Associate Professor with the Centre for Postgraduate Nursing Studies. As a sociologist, Brigit has a strong interest in understanding the social lives of people with learning (intellectual) disability and is committed to initiating and achieving social change through research.

Brigit's research covers a wide range of topics, but she is particularly focused on health and wellbeing, access to justice issues, and parenting by people with a learning disability. She is experienced in qualitative research methodologies, and regularly undertakes transformative evaluation projects, education, and advisory roles within the disability sector.

Brigit is also the Director of the Donald Beasley Institute and an Adjunct Associate Professor within the School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia (since 2018).

Brigit is currently supervising a number of PhD students, all pursuing disability-related doctoral research.

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Publications

Clasby, B., Mirfin-Veitch, B., Blackett, R., Kedge, S., & Whitehead, E. (2022). Responding to neurodiversity in the courtroom: A brief evaluation of environmental accommodations to increase procedural fairness. Criminal Behaviour & Mental Health. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1002/cbm.2239

Trip, H., Northway, R., Perkins, E., Mirfin-Veitch, B., & Adams, R. (2022). COVID-19: Evolving challenges and opportunities for residential and vocational intellectual disability service providers. Journal of Policy & Practice in Intellectual Disabilities. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/jppi.12414

Pettie, M., Dixon, L., Treharne, G., Bowden, C., Patterson, T., Beres, M., Mirfin-Veitch, B., Shaw, R., … Eketone-Kelly, K. (2021). What helps and hinders male survivors’ help-seeking behaviour in Aotearoa New Zealand? Proceedings of the 12th Biennial Conference of the International Society of Critical Health Psychology (ISCHP). (pp. 43). Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/view/ischp21

Bowden, N., Milne, B., Audas, R., Clasby, B., Dacombe, J., Forster, W., Kokaua, J., Gibb, S., … Taylor, B., & Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2021). Criminal justice system interactions among young adults with and without autism: A national birth cohort study in New Zealand. Autism. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/13623613211065541

Miyahara, M., & Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2021). Developmental passages to dance improvisation: An interpretive phenomenological study of lived and living conscious experiences. Research in Dance Education. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/14647893.2021.1873262

Watson, M., Mirfin-Veitch, B., Holton, D., & Tomkins, A. (1997). Professional Development for Staff Involved with Students with Disabilities. Dunedin: Donald Beasley Institute Inc., 56p.

Authored Book - Other

Mirfin-Veitch, B., Conder, J., Treharne, G. J., Hale, L., & Richardson, G. (2018). Challenging methodological and ethical conventions to facilitate research that is responsive to people with learning disabilities. In C. I. Macleod, J. Marx, P. Mnyaka & G. J. Treharne (Eds.), The Palgrave handbook of ethics in critical research. (pp. 355-370). Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-74721-7_23

Chapter in Book - Research

Mirfin-Veitch, B., Milner, P., & McDonald, J. (2017). The pull and push of rural life: Scott and Graham's story. In K. Soldatic & K. Johnson (Eds.), Disability and rurality: Identity, gender and belonging. Abingdon, UK: Routledge.

Chapter in Book - Research

Milner, P., & Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2016). Making a space for the lost stories of inclusion. In R. Jackson & M. Lyons (Eds.), Community care and inclusion for people with an intellectual disability. (pp. 74-89). Edinburgh, UK: Floris Books.

Chapter in Book - Research

Mirfin-Veitch, B. F., & Bray, A. (1997). Grandparents: Part of family. In B. Carpenter (Ed.), Families in context: Emerging trends in early interventiaon. (pp. 76-88). London: David Fulton Publishers.

Chapter in Book - Research

Mirfin-Veitch, B., & Ballard, K. (2005). Says who? Supporting participation in disability research. In P. O'Brien & M. Sullivan (Eds.), Allies in emancipation: Shifting from providing service to being of support. (pp. 189-198). Southbank, Australia: Thomson.

Chapter in Book - Other

Journal - Research Article

Conder, J. A., & Mirfin-Veitch, B. F. (2020). “Getting by”: People with learning disability and the financial responsibility of independent living. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 48, 251-257. doi: 10.1111/bld.12329

Journal - Research Article

Conder, J., Mirfin-Veitch, B., Payne, D., Channon, A., & Richardson, G. (2019). Increasing the participation of women with intellectual disabilities in women's health screening: A role for disability support services. Research & Practice in Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities, 6(1), 86-96. doi: 10.1080/23297018.2018.1466354

Journal - Research Article

Kanagasabai, P., Mulligan, H., Devan, H., Mirfin-Veitch, B., & Hale, L. (2019). Environmental factors influencing leisure participation of children with movement impairments in Aotearoa/New Zealand: A mixed method study. New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy, 47(2), 105-117. doi: 10.15619/NZJP/47.2.05

Journal - Research Article

Trip, H., Whitehead, L., Crowe, M., Mirfin-Veitch, B., & Daffue, C. (2019). Aging with intellectual disabilities in families: Navigating ever-changing seas: A theoretical model. Qualitative Health Research, 29(11), 1595-1610. doi: 10.1177/1049732319845344

Journal - Research Article

Hale, L., Potiki Bryant, K., Ward, A. L., Falloon, A., Montgomery, A., Mirfin-Veitch, B., Tikao, K., & Milosavljevic, S. (2018). Organisational views on health care access for hauā (disabled) Māori in Murihiku (Southland), Aotearoa New Zealand: A mixed methods approach. New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy, 46(2), 51-66. doi: 10.15619/NZJP/46.2.03

Journal - Research Article

Kanagasabai, P. S., Mirfin-Veitch, B., Hale, L. A., & Mulligan, H. (2018). A child-centered method of interviewing children with movement impairments. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 38(3), 255-268. doi: 10.1080/01942638.2017.1365322

Journal - Research Article

Kanagasabai, P. S., Mulligan, H., Hale, L. A., & Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2018). "I do like the activities which I can do..." Leisure participation experiences of children with movement impairments. Disability & Rehabilitation, 40(14), 1630-1638. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2017.1303093

Journal - Research Article

Matthews, M., Bell, E., & Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2018). Comparing psychopathology rates across autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disabilities. Advances in Mental Health & Intellectual Disabilities, 12(5/6), 163-172. doi: 10.1108/AMHID-04-2018-0023

Journal - Research Article

Foster-Cohen, S., & Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2017). Evidence for the effectiveness of visual supports in helping children with disabilities access the mainstream primary school curriculum. Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs, 17(2), 79-86. doi: 10.1111/1471-3802.12105

Journal - Research Article

Kanagasabai, P. S., Mulligan, H., Mirfin-Veitch, B., & Hale, L. (2017). Leisure participation patterns of children with movement impairments in New Zealand. Pediatric Physical Therapy, 29(1), 16-22. doi: 10.1097/pep.0000000000000334

Journal - Research Article

McKenzie, N., Mirfin-Veitch, B., Conder, J., & Brandford, S. (2017). "I'm still here": Exploring what matters to people with intellectual disability during advance care planning. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 30(6), 1089-1098. doi: 10.1111/jar.12355

Journal - Research Article

Hale, L. A., Mirfin-Veitch, B. F., & Treharne, G. J. (2016). Prevention of falls for adults with intellectual disability (PROFAID): A feasibility study. Disability & Rehabilitation, 38(1), 36-44. doi: 10.3109/09638288.2015.1017613

Journal - Research Article

Janssen, J., Hale, L., Mirfin-Veitch, B., & Harland, T. (2016). Perceptions of physiotherapists towards research: A mixed methods study. Physiotherapy, 102, 210-216. doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2015.04.007

Journal - Research Article

Potiki Bryant, K., Hale, L., Tikao, K., Milosavljevic, S., Wright-Tawha, T., Ward, A. L., & Mirfin-Veitch, B. F. (2016). Art as a tool for disseminating research outcomes: The Hauā Mana Māori Project and Participatory Action Research in New Zealand. Journal of Humanities in Rehabilitation. Retrieved from https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/journalofhumanitiesinrehabilitation

Journal - Research Article

Conder, J. A., Mirfin-Veitch, B. F., & Gates, S. (2015). Risk and resilience factors in the mental health and well-being of women with intellectual disability. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 28, 572-583. doi: 10.1111/jar.12153

Journal - Research Article

Kanagasabai, P. S., Mulligan, H., Mirfin-Veitch, B., & Hale, L. A. (2014). Association between motor functioning and leisure participation of children with physical disability: An integrative review. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 56(12), 1147-1162. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12570

Journal - Research Article

Pal, J., Hale, L., Mirfin-Veitch, B., & Claydon, L. (2014). Injuries and falls among adults with intellectual disability: A prospective New Zealand cohort study. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 39(1), 35-44. doi: 10.3109/13668250.2013.867929

Journal - Research Article

Sutherland, D., van der Meer, L., Sigafoos, J., Mirfin-Veitch, B., Milner, P., O'Reilly, M. F., … Marschik, P. B. (2014). Survey of AAC needs for adults with intellectual disability in New Zealand. Journal of Developmental & Physical Disabilities, 26, 115-122. doi: 10.1007/s10882-013-9347-z

Journal - Research Article

Janssen, J., Hale, L., Mirfin-Veitch, B. F., & Harland, T. (2013). Building the research capacity of clinical physical therapists using a participatory action research approach. Physical Therapy, 93(7), 923-934. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20120030

Journal - Research Article

Pal, J., Hale, L., & Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2013). Experiences of therapists trying to reduce falls risk for people with intellectual disability. Journal of Policy & Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 10(4), 314-320. doi: 10.1111/jppi.12058

Journal - Research Article

Conder, J., Milner, P., & Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2011). Reflections on a participatory project: The rewards and challenges for the lead researchers. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 36(1), 39-48. doi: 10.3109/13668250.2010.548753

Journal - Research Article

Conder, J., Mirfin-Veitch, B., Sanders, J., & Munford, R. (2011). Planned pregnancy, planned parenting: Enabling choice for adults with a learning disability. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 39(2), 105-112. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-3156.2010.00625.x

Journal - Research Article

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.

Journal - Research Article

Conder, J., Mirfin-Veitch, B., & Sanders, J. (2008). “I've got to think of him...”: Relationships between parents with an intellectual disability and foster parents. Developing Practice, 21(Autumn/Winter), 17-25.

Journal - Research Article

Munford, R., Sanders, J., Mirfin Veitch, B., & Conder, J. (2008). Ethics and research: Searching for ethical practice in research. Ethics & Social Welfare, 2(1), 50-66. doi: 10.1080/17496530801948754

Journal - Research Article

Munford, R., Sanders, J., Mirfin Veitch, B., & Conder, J. (2008). Looking inside the bag of tools: Creating research encounters with parents with an intellectual disability. Disability & Society, 23(4), 337-347. doi: 10.1080/09687590802038845

Journal - Research Article

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), 226-236.

Journal - Research Article

Mirfin-Veitch, B., Bray, A., Williams, S. M., Clarkson, J. E., & Belton, A. J. (1999). Supporting parents with intellectual disabilities. New Zealand Journal of Disability Studies, 6, 60-74.

Journal - Research Article

Mirfin-Veitch, B. F., 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.

Journal - Research Article

Perry, M. A., Ingham, T., Jones, B., & Mirfin-Veitch, B. (2020). "At risk" and 'Vulnerable"! Reflections on inequities and the impact of COVID-19 on disabled people. New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy, 48(3), 107-116. doi: 10.15619/NZJP/48.3.02

Journal - Research Other