Specialist barbers cuts autistic boy's hair for first time in 2 years

Roo Jackman decided to finally get his hair cut and donate it to charity after fears of overstimulation. Finn Macdiarmid reports

Transcript

00:00Can you tell me the story of why you started to grow your hair out?

00:05Because I want to raise it to charity.

00:09Now, it might be hard to believe, but two years ago, Ruben, or as he likes to be called, Roo,

00:13became afraid of getting his hair cut.

00:16He has ADHD, an autism spectrum disorder,

00:18so the sensory overstimulation of being touched, hair falling across his face,

00:22and the sounds of scissors in his ears was too much for him.

00:25Since then, he's grown his hair out, and with the help of his mum, Amy,

00:28decided to fundraise and donate his hair towards the Little Princess Trust.

00:32He became fearful of having his hair cut, and it started to grow out.

00:36And then, it's very long now, and it makes him hot, and it's tangly,

00:42and we said, you know, maybe it's time to think about having it cut off, it's very long.

00:47And at the beginning, he didn't really like the idea, but, you know, we talked to him more,

00:51and then we showed him suggestions of, you know, instead of just throwing his beautiful hair away,

00:57actually that it could be donated to somebody, and treasured by somebody.

01:03The fundraised money currently stands at £800, and will go towards the Little Princess Trust as well,

01:08while Roo's hair will be used to make wigs for those who've lost theirs

01:11due to cancer treatment or other conditions.

01:14But Roo's former dislike of going to the barbers isn't rare,

01:17with many who have additional needs struggling to get their hair cut.

01:20In fact, it's such a big problem that families with neurodivergent children from London, Essex,

01:25and all over the country have come down here to Maidstone,

01:28simply because it's that difficult to find an accommodating barber.

01:32The Hairy Bear does things slightly differently though,

01:34whether that's giving a child goggles so they don't have to feel hair going across their face,

01:38or even giving haircuts at the tops of slides.

01:41I asked Martin, one of the barbers at Hairy Bear,

01:43why they started offering longer slots to accommodate those with neurodivergencies.

01:48It's things like pictures on the wall they give me from that young kid who's been with me for a year.

01:54Very awkward to start off with, but now enjoys, loves to come and get his hair cut.

01:57So now one year of anniversary, come and see me, dreamy little note.

02:01It means immense to them.

02:02They find satisfaction in their child actually getting a haircut,

02:05rather than skinhead, to be honest with you.

02:07And the gratitude is seeing the kids come back not scared anymore and smiling all the time.

02:12Parents have said that haircuts can be especially difficult,

02:14both for their children and for them.

02:16So hopefully, Roo will be one of many children who feel they can get their haircut

02:20and raise money for charity all at the same time.

02:23Finn McDermid for KMTV in Maidstone.