By Muhammad Basir Roslan
KUALA LUMPUR: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) behave in challenging ways that are difficult to manage and even a simple matter like haircutting can be a taxing affair for them as well as their parents or guardians.
Taking their unique characteristics into consideration, one barber in Bandar Baru Samariang in Kuching, Sarawak, decided to offer a special haircutting service for autistic children as he felt hair salons rarely have the expertise to handle children with special needs.
For Azzam Mujah, 29, it all started in early 2020 when he opened a salon, ‘Kedai Gunting Rambut Abang Bomb’, with two other partners in Bandar Baru Samariang.
Among his first customers was a four-year-old autistic boy named Nadheem Nizam and according to his parents, they had visited nearly all the haircutting salons in Kuching but none of the barbers or hairdressers were willing to cut their son’s hair.
Special techniques needed
“My partners and I felt sorry for them so we agreed to do it. The first time we cut the boy’s hair, we found it very challenging but we did it with a lot of patience,” Azzam told Bernama in a Zoom call from Bandar Baru Samariang, adding that it was an unforgettable experience.
He said the first time Nadheem and his parents entered their shop, the situation became chaotic as he screamed and clenched his fists and swung his hands in anger. It was obvious he did not want his hair cut.
Azzam said initially he and his partners, Airul Helmi and the late Hamadi Halmi, felt anxious about handling Nadheem but later got a hold of themselves and tried various ways to calm down the special child.
“Hamadi was a former fireman and together, we won over Nadheem by giving him some sweets and laughing along with him. It took us some time to calm him down but we succeeded in cutting his hair,” he said.
Azzam said so far over 100 autistic children, most of them from the Bandar Baru Samariang area, have had their hair cut at his salon, with the charge being RM10 per person.
“Our shop is the only one in this area offering such a service,” he said, adding they keep a stock of sweets and chocolates as well as toys to keep the children occupied while their hair is being cut.
Severe autism
Meanwhile, Nadheem’s mother Noor Haerizan Abu Bakar, 39, told Bernama she and her husband were immensely grateful for the special service offered by Azzam’s salon as their son did not like anyone holding his head let alone cutting his hair.
“He doesn’t even like his own family members touching him… my son has Level 3 autism, that is, severe autism. Nadheem can’t communicate verbally and needs to use pictures to indicate what he wants.
“He can at times behave in an aggressive manner which can scare other people. But at Azzam’s hair salon, they are able to control him and get his hair cut like other children. We really admire their skills and level of patience when handling Nadheem,” said the housewife who lives with her family in Bandar Baru Samariang.
Noor Haerizan also hoped the stigma attached to autistic children will disappear when more businesses take the initiative to offer special services to such children.
“Social support is something we need most as it will enable autistic children to lead a better life and they will also not be discriminated against,” she added.
Azzam currently operates his salon with Airul as their other partner Hamadi succumbed to an illness in February this year.
Azzam, who studied at a community college in Kuching and graduated with an automotive certificate in 2017, said his interest in haircutting motivated him to open a salon.
“In 2018, my two friends and I opened a small kiosk at a night market in Kuching to offer haircutting services. It was the late Hamadi who taught me the techniques of cutting the hair of men, women and children.
“Then in early 2020, we opened our own hair salon with a capital of RM10,000,” he said, adding that he and his partner hope to open several branches throughout Sarawak. – BERNAMA
