Waikato disability advocate John McIntosh died in Waikato Hospital in Hamilton on Sunday after a short illness. The 74-year-old was last year made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to people with disabilities. McIntosh was described in his citation as a regional leader in raising awareness for disability and ageing issues. He was born with scoliosis – or curvature of the spine – and his parents were told he was unlikely to live past 40. McIntosh joined Life Unlimited Charitable Trust, a national provider of health and disability services, in 2003 and was responsible for the development of four disability resource centres (now called Mobility Centre stores) throughout the Midland region.
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