The Office for Disability Issues would like to thank the story tellers and their families.

The stories were collected by Anne Brunt and Linda Chronis, and edited by Anne Brunt with editorial assistance from Ruth Brassington. Tracy Edmonds, a sign language interpreter, worked with Kathy Strongman to tell her story.

Many of the photographs were provided by the story tellers and their families. Other photographs were taken by Anne Brunt, Linda Chronis and Ian Y Stacey.

The poems by Pippa Coulston are from a book called Lifescape, where the author tried to put disability and grief within the framework of life.

Thanks to Diversityworks for supplying photographs of the 2004 'Coming of Age' Youth Forum, the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind for supplying photographs of goalball and Sally Thorburn for photographs from Te Aro School.

Life is for Living was designed by Lisa King.

Thanks to CCS, Victoria University Disability Support Services, Gracelands, People First, Tai Tokerau DEAS Trust, the voluntary organisation Northland Down Support Group, and individuals Bev Grammar, Philip Patston and Wendy Wicks for providing contacts to the story tellers.

Life is for Living was published in May 2006 by the Office for Disability Issues, Ministry of Social Development. It is available electronically at: www.odi.govt.nz

For more information about this publication, contact:

Office for Disability Issues
Ministry of Social Development
PO Box 1556
Wellington
phone: (04) 916 3300
fax: (04) 918 0075
email: odi@msd.govt.nz

ISBN 0-478-29321-6