Collaborative Autism Movement

Sensory-friendly Haircut Sessions

W
hy sensory-friendly haircut sessions?G

o

ing to a salon for most is a relaxing, soothing,re
freshing experience; however, those with autism spectrum disorders tend toha
ve a completely different view, it’s a sensory overload experience.Ma

ny individuals with autism suffer from sensory processingdi
fficulties. Sensory processing is how the nervous system receives andpr
ocesses information and transfers it to the brain. People with autism receiveth
is information in an unorganized manner. They are often inclined to getov
erstimulated in an environment hearing ordinary sounds. They can exhibitch
allenging behaviors such as elopement, screaming, ear covering, and tantrums,ma
king it hard for them to get a successful haircut.Ta

ctile issues, or sense of touch, can be problematic aswe
ll. During a haircut, some tactile stimuli typically experienced includeth
ings such as the stylist touching their hair, scalp, or ears, the feeling ofa
cape around the neck, the movement of a comb or brush through their hair andwa
shing of their hair.Ol

factory issues are related to smell and a person withau
tism may find the smells of a salon overwhelming causing nausea, burning ofth
e eyes and skin irritation. Putting all these sensory issues together in onero
om can make for an explosive experience for an individual with autism,le
aving them anxious, stressed and overwhelmed.Cr

eating sensory safe environments by limiting stimuli topr
actice hair cutting experiences and gradually increasing to a traditionalsa
lon/barber setting have greatly helped individuals with autism to overcometh
eir aversion to a haircutting experience. This is why Collaborative AutismMo
vement (CAM) has developed a program for a community-based sensoryha
ircutting and resource toolkit experience. CAM is collaborating with autismsp
ectrum disorder service providers, autism-based non-profit organizations, andsa
lons/barbers to provide space and onsite locations for sensory haircuts.In

conjunction with the need for sensory friendly haircuts,CA
M has a new way to reach even more special needs patrons by offering resourceto
olkits. These toolkits contain sensory friendly items and useful resourcesth
at the individual can choose from to make the hair cutting experience moreen
gaging and pleasurable for them.It

ems included in these boxes are silent clippers, weightedbl
ankets, a tablet, fidget toys, sensory brushes, and a resource book forst
ylists and parents to assist in preparing and accomplishing a successfulha
ircut.Si

nce the inception of our Sensory Haircuts and ResourceTo
olkit program, we have been able to give over 50 haircuts to individuals withau
tism/special needs.  CAM also provides behavior technicians inco
njunction with the resource toolkits. These two components have been thedr
iving force behind the number of successful haircuts.Th

e sensory haircut boxes would be given to thesa
lons/barbers whom we have we have already worked alongside of in theco
mmunity, whom we are confident are able to service these individuals’ sensoryne
eds appropriately. When working with the stylists and the behaviorte
chnicians at our free sensory haircutting sessions, they have frequently toldus
that the items we are providing have helped the haircutting process forth
ese children tremendously. They have stated that they would be able to reacha
larger population of special needs clients if the resource toolkits wereav
ailable at their salons or barber shop on a permanent basis. By

having these boxes available, they would be bettereq
uipped to accommodate any sensory needs of the patrons of their salon orba
rber shop. This greatly increases the number of people that we reach withau
tism/special needs and help them titrate into a traditional salonse
tting. CA

M has initiated a follow up survey system. After eachha
ircut, we require the parent/caregiver/ or the person themselves to take anon
line survey, which is given to them either on the tablet we provide or hardco
py. This is to give us feedback, so that we may take the steps to make anych
anges that are deemed necessary. It also gives us data on how many times itta
kes the individual to transition into a typical salon setting, what was themo
st useful item in the toolkit, has the time decreased that it takes to get asu
ccessful haircut, and what we can improve.Th

e Collaborative Autism Movement’s goal is to reach as many people as possible who are struggling with accomplishing a successful haircut, and to increase the visibility, acceptance, and awareness in Luzerne County communities of those with autism/special needs.Ho

w is CAM different?Co

llaborative Autism Movement (CAM) hascr
eated a different approach to sensory free hair cutting sessions for childrenan
d their families affected by autism spectrum disorders. Our program isde
signed to change that experience for families. Our goal is to enable thesein
dividuals to get successful haircuts in a traditional salon.Th

is fundraiser will enable us to hirepr
ofessional stylists, barbers, and behav…