In a word, this stylist notices.
As I sat in her chair and we talked, we learned about each other. She learned that I worked with persons with autism across the spectrum and across the lifespan. She learned that I was interested in her experiences with her own family members and clients with autism.
And I started to learn more about “sensory friendly”.
What does she notice? On one occasion, a client affected by autism sat in her chair. She noticed his hot neck, burning up and red, creeping up from his collar to his ears. She gave him a cool towel. He visibly relaxed and softened into his chair. As she provided more and more ways for him to be comfortable in her chair, the stylist also noticed what he was interested in. She shares his enthusiasm for Star Wars and the two discuss it whenever he gets a haircut. She joined with him in discussing something that interested him, and she “took his mind off” the haircut.
He learned to tolerate haircuts in his chair and now occasionally turns down the cold towel.
How important is it to be “friendly” as a business? Maybe it doesn’t seem like a life-or-death situation.
But as any parent whose child screams bloody murder at the mention of a haircut, or a dentist, knows– it feels like it sometimes. And postponing dental work until a child can be put “completely under” is expensive, and doesn’t teach coping skills for going to the dentist through the lifespan. I know many parents who do their child’s haircut in the basement, where no one can hear the screams, and where the sensory stimulation and its fallout is more controllable.
We’re fortunate in the Boulder and Broomfield area to have several excellent pediatric dentists in our area who practice friendly supportive dentistry. There are “sensory friendly” films, and autism supportive places to eat.
How is it in your area?
If you’re a business, is there a small way you can “be the change” you need in your neighborhood?
Thanks, Felicia at Finishing Touch Spa and Salon!
If you’re a community member, can you advocate for those small changes and value them when you see them? (The website myautismteam has a provider list and online family network).
Closing comments
“Sensory” and “Behavior” are both misunderstood concepts, especially when people equate “sensory” or “behavior” to something intrinsically negative, or when people use “sensory” or “behavior” as an explanation for something else. When someone says “he had a behavior” or “it was sensory”, we haven’t explained anything.
Perhaps when a behavior analyst pays attention to how a person interacts with his environment, that behavior analyst is interested in the sensing of stimuli.
Perhaps when a sensory friendly teacher pays attention to how a student is affected by sensory stimulation, that teacher is interested in behavior.
The sensory-friendly stylist paid close attention to how her client’s facial expressions, body rigidity, tenseness, nervousness, fidgeting, breathing, and rapidity or fluidity of speech changed when she modified or provided sensory input.
In a word, she noticed.
Cusp Emergence 
Thank you for posting this! It has been a tremendous challange over the years to find a beautician and dentistry for my own kiddo! It seems that any proccedure which requires intervention around the head area are difficult to tolerate for those with sensory issues!
My husband and I visit the Veteran’s Home near us on a regular basis. One lady speaks intelligibly sometimes, but has seemed to recognize me when I visit with her. She is frequently complaining of being cold. I’m sure it is her circulation or perhaps meds. Anyway, I recently found a brightly colored fleece and took it to her. She smiled profusely and said, “You must notice I am usually cold.” It was a joy to realize she took note and expressed the thought so well. Another time, I told her I loved her and she said, “I love you too. I really do.” Other times we just sit and hold hands when it appears she is ‘not at home’ mentally. Is there anything else I can do for her on a regular basis, or should I just respond to those times she seems willing/able to communicate. Thanks for the post.
That’s an excellent question, and it’s lovely that you are able to visit regularly! In general, regular interaction is very important in itself, and each time you visit you are providing much-needed stimulation in her environment. Environmental enrichment is the process of providing interesting opportunities for engagement, interaction, and stimulation in someone’s daily life, and research shows it helps us slow the effects of cognitive decline. When someone is unable to communicate, she may still be aware at some level that you are there. Having something to look forward to that will be stimulating, also provides opportunities for her to exercise her memory. If she looks forward to your visits and makes connections such as recalling she was cold in your presence, that’s a great sign and if I were you, I’d keep it up! 🙂 Suggestions: I bring a “therapeutic” bag with me on visits to folks I don’t yet know that well. Maybe they’d like to look at a beautiful picture book with me, listen to music with me for a few moments, or select from some options (sit in the room together, go on a walk and park overlooking a pond where we look at pictures together, etc). Sometimes exploring interests is a great idea, and if you find one, you can provide the opportunity regularly at future visits. When someone is “not at home” mentally, it may be soothing to hold hands and hear calming voices even when they cannot respond verbally.