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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThis barber tried for years to cut an autistic boys hair. Then they had a breakthrough.
The first time 10-year-old Jordie Rowland came into the barber shop it was a disaster, barber Lisa Ann McKenzie said.
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McKenzie ended up walking around the barber shop with Jordie that day two years ago, even lying on the floor with him. She got in a few snips but stopped the haircut when she saw that Jordie was agitated.
After the first unsuccessful haircut, she suggested to Jordies parents that they bring him back every two weeks at closing time, often at no charge. That went on for a few months.
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Then the owner of the barber shop chastised McKenzie for allowing a customer to come in after closing time. Frustrated, she left that job, and soon after opened her own shop, the Celtic Barber Rothwell Central.
Every two weeks, Jordie would come by McKenzies shop after it was closed, and the music was turned down. This lasted about eight months.
Then, a few weeks ago, they had a breakthrough. She sang The Wheels on the Bus to him.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2018/03/19/this-barber-tried-for-years-to-cut-an-autistic-boys-hair-then-they-had-a-breakthrough/?utm_term=.21ba95aeeb8e
Now she has many special needs customers.
justhanginon
(3,290 posts)Lisa Ann McKenzie is one of them. Kudos to her.
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)LAS14
(13,783 posts)I know that sometimes the same story shows up in another paper. I understand that respectable news organizations need to make money, but we subscribe to the NYT and the Boston Globe so I avoid the Post for the most part.
LAS14
(13,783 posts)lame54
(35,293 posts)How do people do it
That escapes me
grantcart
(53,061 posts)and rented her own space under her own name.
Grammy23
(5,810 posts)In your face, tRump, since we already know how you feel about people who are different.
Good for this special lady! She deserves many accolades for the attention she brought to the issue and her willingness to try to find a solution to the problem. Perhaps she will inspire others to go the extra mile in helping these special needs kids and their families.
Lifelong Protester
(8,421 posts)BadGimp
(4,015 posts)world wide wally
(21,744 posts)The funny thing about this story was that they loved a video based on "Wheels on the Bus".
There is something magical about that song and autistic children.