1 August 2025
Social Sciences | Interview with Editorial Board Member Prof. Emerita Patricia O’Brien
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From 2009 to 2020, Prof. Emerita Patricia O’Brien was the Executive Director of the Centre for Disability Studies, affiliated with the University of Sydney, Australia. Prior to this role, she held academic appointments at Trinity College, Dublin, as the Director of the National Institute for Intellectual Disability, and the University of Auckland as Dean of Postgraduate Studies and Research. She now holds a Professor Emerita title from the Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney. |
Prof. O’Brien’s current research interests and publications cover individual supported living for people with high and complex needs, choice and control through individualized funding packages, diversity of housing types, advocacy, inclusive education, community participation, service design, and support. She is known for leading inclusive research initiatives, where people with intellectual disabilities are involved as co-researchers. Recently, Prof. O’Brien edited two Special Issues on inclusive research for Social Sciences (ISSN: 2076-0760), exploring how well-traveled the “inclusive research” road is. As a strong advocate for inclusive education within university settings, she initiated the uni 2 beyond program at the University of Sydney, where students with intellectual disabilities can audit courses. Three books that promote the need for value-based inclusion, both within education and communities, have been co-edited by Patricia. She is a Fellow of the Australasian Society of Intellectual Disability (FASID) and a member of several boards, such as Achieve Australia, The Achieve Foundation, and Good Directions.
In 2023, Patricia was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to people with disability through research and education.
The following is an interview with Professor Emerita Patricia O’Brien:
Prof. Emerita Patricia O’Brien’s related Special Issues:
