Who are you going to call? - Your friend, of course

Who is going to help you shop for jeans that fit perfectly?

Who will tell you if that cute black dress in the wardrobe will look good at your brother’s 21st birthday party? Or if it’s time to go flatting?

Natasha can now talk these things over with her friend, Holly.

Their friendship is what Youth Week, starting this Saturday (23 -31 May), is all about.

Holly Tunstall, 18, is studying science and commerce at Victoria University. She loves netball, dragon boating and she works out at the gym four or five times a week. Natasha Williams, 24, is studying computing, and loves netball and movies. She works out at the gym too – sometimes. Both girls live in Porirua, but the odds on them meeting up weren’t that great.

Until one day in January when that changed. Holly saw an advertisement at her gym for people to join other IHC volunteers and get to know someone with an intellectual disability. She called and was introduced to Natasha.

Now Holly and Natasha meet up whenever they can – at a cafe or the movies or just around town. There is always plenty of laughter and new treats planned.

Natasha: “I said to her, does she want to go over to our house and do baking.”

Holly: “Natasha is lovely. It’s good to see her.”

They are planning a trek around Porirua’s fashion stores to find a new pair of jeans for Natasha. But the big highlight on Natasha’s social calendar is her brother Donald’s 21st birthday party next week. He’s mad on the All Blacks, so the theme for the party is black and white – and that’s why Natasha is looking for some advice about what to wear.

Holly says she had no idea what to expect when she volunteered. “It changes your perspective really. You just realise that these people are like everyone else.”

IHC National Manager of Volunteering and Membership Karen Roberts says every young person deserves the chance to dream, to have ambitions, friends and fun. But, when someone has an intellectual disability, friends are sometimes hard to find.

IHC is a sponsor of Youth Week, which is being organised by New Zealand. Aotearoa Adolescent Health and Development and supported by the Ministry of Youth Development. The theme for the week is ‘Make time for youth’.

"We are not asking for the moon,” Karen says. "All young people like to go to the mall, the movies or a sports game. But many young people with a disability are waiting for someone to call by and say, 'Hey, let's hang out'."

Karen says young people with intellectual disabilities can achieve their dreams – but they can do it more easily if a friend is there backing them up.

"Don’t put limits on people with disabilities. Encourage them to push their limits – to fly as high as they can," she says.

"Don’t be embarrassed by anyone's disability – be thrilled at what they doing. You are giving someone an opportunity – and everybody deserves to have options in life."