The Amazing Story Of A Peterborough Autistic Teenager's First Haircut In A Salon
/UPDATE: Huffington Post Canada picks up our story. Buzzfeed also picks up our story.
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For Peterborough's Kate and Jason Wells, witnessing their 14-year-old son Aidan get his haircut at a salon for the first time ever was a moment they will cherish forever—one they had built up to for years.
While for most of us a haircut is no big deal, for the Wells family it's the everything. See, Aidan has autism, and sensory issues are very common in children with it. The sounds of the clippers, the fear of scissors, the feel of the cape, sitting in a strange chair in a strange place—they are all potential triggers which could set Aidan off.
Aidan at Sparrows Hair Studio getting ready for his first ever cut in a salon
Kate Wells
"Sometimes people talk too much or too quickly, or give too many instructions which for Aidan is confusing and too much input," his mom Kate tells PTBOCanada. "Haircuts are notoriously challenging for individuals on the spectrum."
Indeed, when Aidan was a toddler, Kate would have to cut his hair while he slept because it was so traumatic for him. There was a time when nobody could even touch his head.
Things progressed but a haircut was still a very difficult chore for Aidan: "Jason would have to sit on the floor with his arms, Aidan in his lap, while Jason wrapped his arms around him, hugging him to provide some comforting deep pressure and to try and keep his hands clear of the scissors," Kate tells PTBOCanada.
Stylist Adam Murray begins cutting Aidan's hair
The last several years have gotten better, as Kate and Jason would script "first haircut, then Lego" for Aidan, a reward for a job well done.
Which all kinda built up to the magical moment on Wednesday (July 26th), one they have been prepping for for a lifetime. Their due diligence for taking Aidan to a real hairdresser has involved carefully looking at every salon: the easy access for quick entry and exit (if needed), flexibility, compassion, the stylist's demeanour, the atmosphere, few stairs, easy parking out front of the salon. All were important if not vital factors they had to consider.
The ingredients, if you will, had to be perfect to make this recipe work. If not, this could be the perfect storm.
Adam was amazing with Aidan
Their research lead them to Sparrows Hair Studio on Hunter Street in Peterborough's East City and to co-owner/stylist Adam Murray.
The family has a comfort level with Adam, as Kate has known him since she was a teenager, and Jason already gets his hair cut there. But what sealed the deal—and experiment—was Adam offering to have the family come after the salon was closed for the day.
"We were able to come into a quiet salon, with some cool music playing on the record player which Aidan loved," Kate tells PTBOCanada.
"As we approached the salon, his excitement for a haircut at a salon turned to anxiety and we thought it wouldn't likely happen—or would end in a meltdown. All of those worries faded the moment Adam came to greet us in a warm, welcoming, calm manner. Aidan was immediately eased."
Magical moment: Aidan checking out his awesome haircut
Without Adam's demeanour with Aidan before and after he sat in the chair, none of this would have been possible.
"I have always admired his big heart, patience and happy, positive disposition," Kate says of Adam. "Jason, Emma [his younger sister] and I were in tears watching him work his magic. He spoke to Aidan, not around him. He explained what he was doing—prepared him for the different noises of each clipper he used. He was quick to praise, quick to work, precise and efficient."
So often, people will default to Jason and Kate when Aidan is around rather than speaking to him. But not Adam. He spoke directly to Aidan: it was a real conversation, and the Wells family was merely in the background, observing, in awe of this magical moment—of this experience that they once never thought possible.
Aidan's haircut rocks almost as much as his stylist
