500 Talcottville Rd, Vernon Connecticut 06066
We had such an incredible experience here with our son, who has autism.
If you’re a parent of a child on the autism spectrum, sensory-sensitive, or anxious about haircuts, this shop is truly a safe and welcoming space. A barbershop can be very overwhelming for our kiddo, especially since this was his first haircut in a long time but from the moment we arrived, we felt understood and supported.
Shawn, the barber, went above and beyond in every way. He was patient, gentle, and followed our son’s lead the entire time, which is huge for autism families. He let our son feel the clippers, turned them on so he could hear the sound, spoke to him with constant positive reinforcement, reassured him, and talked about his favorite shows to help him feel comfortable.
He also offered breaks whenever our son needed time to regroup, never rushing the process and always focusing on building confidence.
What truly sets this shop apart is how accommodating they were they even opened the shop just for us so our child could feel comfortable and regulated. Which was such a great deed.
His wife was amazing as well, helping by quickly removing hair from our son’s face and neck and offering squeezes to help him regulate, which made a huge difference during the haircut.
As parents of a child with autism, especially with it being his first haircut in a long time, there was a lot of anxiety involved.
They reassured my husband every step of the way and made us feel supported instead of rushed or judged.
This wasn’t just a haircut it was an autism-friendly, sensory-aware experience filled with patience, kindness, and understanding.
We are beyond grateful and highly recommend this barbershop to any family looking for a barber who truly understands kids with autism and special needs. ?✂️