Sue Leith from Ko Taku Reo Deaf Education NZ, Dan Haynes from Nelson Bays RTLB, John Hewlett from BLENNZ Nelson Visual Resource Centre, Pip Wells from Nelson Bays RTLB, and Fiona Young from Nelson Bays RTLB have moved into a new educational hub at Salisbury School in the South Island. Salisbury School is the only residential school in New Zealand for girls with intellectual disabilities.
The new hub, located on land owned by Rangitāne o Wairau, was blessed in a dawn ceremony. It includes classrooms, meeting spaces, and offices designed to meet the special needs of students. For example, instead of a traditional school bell, classrooms have strip lights that flash green or red to signal the bell or a fire alarm. The building’s hallway has bright green carpet to help those with low vision navigate.
The hub was created from repurposed classrooms from Waimea College and funded by the Ministry of Education. It houses the Resource Teachers of Learning and Behaviour (RTLB), Ko Taku Reo Deaf Education New Zealand, and BLENNZ, the Blind and Low Vision Education Network New Zealand. These three organizations provide support for schools, students, and families in Nelson and Tasman.
This move has been over ten years in the making and is the first time these organizations have been able to work together in a purpose-built facility.
Pip Wells, the Nelson Bays RTLB cluster lead principal, explained that the service works with children, their families, and teachers to improve outcomes for those struggling at school. She said the new building would be used for workshops and meetings with families.
John Hewlett, the BLENNZ Nelson Visual Resource Centre manager, said the new building was a game-changer. He suggested that the facility could serve as an example of what accessibility could look like in other schools.
Sue Leith, the team lead for Ko Taku Reo Deaf Education NZ, said the organization supports deaf and hard of hearing students in mainstream schools. She believes that having all services on the same site will enhance outcomes for students.
Salisbury School principal Ellie Salčin-Watts said the school was proud to host the new hub. Rāngitane o Wairau will give a name to the new building to symbolize the school’s connection with the community and its heritage.
