The world is already a tough place to live in, and it can become even more difficult if you’re disabled. People with special needs often face discrimination based on their abilities and sometimes even the way they look. It is challenging to keep fighting back against this kind of prejudice all the time.
Sometimes this inequality can show up in the smallest ways. For example, people online recently found out that a hairdresser in the United Kingdom was charging extra to give boys with special needs haircuts.
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Disabled people shouldn’t be treated differently than able-bodied people, which is why people are striving to shine a light on and change practices that are still unequal
Image credits: RDNE Stock project (not the actual photo)
Recently, a sign in a barbershop went viral, and the hairdresser received major backlash for charging higher prices to special needs boys for haircuts
It all started on Facebook when a woman named Leanne Caffrey shared a picture of a barbershop’s sign with all its pricing details. The price list was divided into two sections, with a boys' section on top and a girls' section at the bottom. For boys, the prices ranged from £12-15 for the different types of haircuts. The pricing was slightly higher for girls.
The woman was angered that special needs boys were being charged £2 extra for haircuts. She captioned the post, saying, ‘I never out small businesses. But this has made me really cross.’ This isn’t the first time there have been extra charges levied on people for being differently abled. A wheelchair user in India was unfairly charged extra when boarding a bus because his wheelchair was considered “luggage.”
Image credits: @Wayne57072607
The post received a lot of attention, and people from X were outraged at the discrimination towards children with special needs
The post went viral and was reposted by people on X. A man named Wayne reshared it and stated that his wife visited that same hairdresser. He also told people that the shop’s name was Ranya Unisex Salon in Rosehill and encouraged them to leave comments for the hairdresser. Netizens were understandably angry at the shop owner and could not believe that anyone would charge different prices for kids with special needs.
It should also be noted that people with special needs already have to deal with many extra direct and indirect costs as a result of their differences. The significant outrage from people online prompted the salon owner, Shwan Kadir, to apologize and explain his side of the situation. The 49-year-old stated that he had owned the shop for the past 17 years and could not believe that people were taking issue with his pricing sign.
Image credits: ryanjames1979
The barber mentioned that he would charge an additional £2 if he felt that the haircut would take longer, but he would let people know about the pricing beforehand
The owner of the hairdressing shop shared a lengthy statement with people online. He called it a total “misunderstanding” and mentioned that he would never “discriminate [against] any children/adults that have learning difficulties.” Shwan clarified that the pricing sign had been in his shop for a long time and that they had never charged any special needs children that price.
He went on to add that the cost might increase if the haircut requires more time. Apart from the price points, he clarified that they are “trained to deal with disabilities and try [their] best to make having a hair cut a happy place for everyone.” The shop apparently also has an autism specialist. Once all the social media posts began pouring in, the owner taped over the sign with the pricing details.
Image credits: ryanjames1979
Many people did not accept his explanation or apology. Some stated that it was discrimination to treat children with social and sensory difficulties differently and have them pay more. They felt that hairdressers should have more empathy for kids with different needs. People also stated that it was illegal to discriminate in this way, citing the UK Equality Act of 2010.
Some people sided with the barber stating that “time-based cuts might take longer to settle” or that “it’s quite dangerous to cut the hair of a special needs person, they might not comply with the barber holding sharp scissors.”
Image credits: @Wayne57072607
According to the HIE Help Center, “although kids with sensory challenges are often upset by day-to-day tasks such as brushing teeth, many parents report that one of the most distressing activities is going for a haircut.” This can be because some disabled children find the buzzing or clipping sounds too noisy, the lights too bright, or the sensation of someone touching their hair unpleasant.
Image credits: Karolina Grabowska (not the actual photo)
Hairdressers can create a safe space for their client by explaining to them how the process will work, slowly moving through each step, and being patient with the child. Sensory-friendly haircuts involve some modifications to the traditional experience to make it more comfortable for disabled children. This can involve using softer and quieter tools or adjusting their cutting techniques.
What did you think of the different pricing on the barber’s signboard? Do you think it was a form of discrimination against kids with special needs? Let us know in the comments.
Some people came out in support of the barber, trying to explain why the extra cost made sense
Others were not as forgiving, and on X, opinions were still split
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