The 16-year-old from Norfolk, who took gold in the S14 200 metres freestyle to set a Paralympic record at London 2012, has Aspergers herself and travelled to Barton-upon-Humber near Grimsby to open Applegate House.

Mother Dawn Applegate said the Paralympic golden girl was "over the moon" to be opening the building, which consists of six self-contained flats with communal areas along with round the clock staff to help support residents operated up by children's care specialists Options Group.

At the official opening, a prepared statement from Applegate was read out by Options director Russell Lees, head of the adult autism service, which said: "In training/competition there are very few people who really understand how hard it is for me.

"I really struggle to cope with people socially.

"I don't like any changes and trying to concentrate on more than one thing is so difficult but my coach is very understanding.

"We have a timetable for everything so I have a good routine, we make plans to keep calm and we always have a backup plan so I feel safe."

The statement went on to say: "We do everything we can to make things go smoothly but this doesn't always work and sometimes I just can't cope.

"Some people think they are helping when they try talking to me but it just makes me feel worse so I have to go home.

"Having space away from everyone works for me, I actually enjoyed being sent to isolation at school, ha ha!"

Applegate House acts as a transit for individuals who are ready to move out of higher dependency residential service community based home, caring for 18-year-olds and over, and is operated by Options Group who provide specialist service for children, young people and adults with autistic  spectrum condition (ASC), learning disabilities, behavioural, emotional and social difficulties (BESD).

London 2012 gold medallist Jessica-Jane Applegate, who suffers from Asperger's syndrome, opened up Applegate House in Barton-upon-Humber

Applegate has already received acclaim for her swimming feats after clocking the second fastest time in the world over 50m and third fastest over the 200m freestyle distance at the 2011 Wales Winter Open, followed by gold in the S14 50m butterfly and 200m freestyle at the 2012 Berlin Open and gold in the S14 200m freestyle at the 2012 British Swimming Championships.

At London 2012, Applegate's also competed in the 100m backstroke narrowing missing out on a place on the podium and finished in fourth place before going on to win gold in her favoured 200m freestyle.

Des Crump, registered manager at Applegate House, said: "We put out a request to young people and staff and someone came up with naming the building after Jessica in recognition of her achievements at the Paralympics.

"It was lovely to meet her and lovely to get her perspective on her condition.

"Our residents are truly inspired by her and we are very proud to have her involved."

The honour follows on from a glittering start to the year for the young athlete who received her MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2013 New Years Honour.

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