A new housing development for disabled children in Napier is specially designed with them in mind.
Outside the Tobias home. Photo: RNZ / Tom Kitchin
The new homes at Hohepa Hawke's Bay reduce sensory overload - cutting down on noise and colour.
Government ministers were in Napier yesterday, opening two new houses for Hohepa Homes Trust.
Hohepa has homes and schools around the country for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
These new buildings have been designed with special features that aim to improve their lives.
Ryan Gedye said he had lived in Hohepa homes for eight years.
Hohepa resident Ryan Gedye and Napier MP Stuart Nash plant a tree outside one of the homes. Photo: RNZ / Tom Kitchin
"They are good comfort, my homes are comfortable because I watch TV - The Simpsons and Friends - my favourite programme," he said.
A 2018 report by the Children's Commissioner said young people wanted the place they were living to feel and look like an everyday home, not an institution.
People on the spectrum often cannot process moderate levels of light, noise, colour, smells and textures.
Such things as striped wallpaper or the flicker of a fluorescent lamp can be distressing.
Hohepa Hawke's Bay and Wellington general manager Santiago De Marco said the homes had been designed with those things in mind.
Hohepa's Wellington general manager Santiago De Marco. Photo: RNZ / Tom Kitchin
"We've created sliding doors from floor to roof that can separate environments so that if someone is having an epileptic seizure for example they can have time, a space to be well catered for while others may continue to be enjoying some play with others in the lounge or living areas," he said.
Minister for children Tracey Martin and Napier MP Stuart Nash opened the two homes.
"These are purpose-built houses with all of that conversation taking place before the building has been put up," Martin said.
"Previously we've tried to retrofit houses so that's what's special about these."
She said the government had been working on a similar concept to help those going through the youth justice system.
Minister for Children Tracey Martin. Photo: RNZ / Tom Kitchin
"The buildings themselves are of interest to us - we are building more group homes or remand homes rather than have children inside more institutionalised environments. The way that these houses have been built can lend themselves to that."
Oranga Tamariki chief executive Grainne Moss said the government approved building 10 homes around New Zealand for children who had specialised needs.
She was there yesterday to get ideas for these homes.
"Some of the products that they're using in the floors, in the bathrooms, in the walls are of interest because they keep it homely but also keep it very safe."
These homes were not funded by the government.
The living area inside one of the homes. Photo: RNZ / Tom Kitchin