A newly opened barber shop in Belfast is offering a safe and pleasant environment for children with sensory needs.
M&Ms Gentleman's Barbers, on Finaghy Road North, is now fully equipped with a sensory room, with lights, bubbles, silent razors and staff members dedicated to making the experience stress free.
Speaking to Belfast Live, owner Mark McParland said they wanted to create a space where those with special needs could come. He hailed his silent business partner, who was a huge driving force behind the sensory room.
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"I have always known how to cut hair because my mum taught me when I was younger," Mark said.
"During the recession, I went barbering but then left for Australia to get my trade back. I have been working in construction there for the past ten years.
"I wanted to make a barbers with a sensory room in it for the kids. Our nephew is non-verbal and my brother has special needs too. He is older now but we took all of that on board when creating this room.
"Myself and my business partner want parents to trust us to provide that one-to-one service. We have Michael Floyd here who has been a barber for 20 years and has worked with children with Autism before. He is very good with the kids and a perfect temperament.
"We know that there are children with special needs, who need to be treated differently in the barbers, with more patience. This room gives them more privacy too."
The room has cloud lights in the ceiling, with sensory lights around the walls. It has bubble machines and lava lamps. It also has silent razors and lights that can be individually controlled to suit personal needs.
"We opened last Friday," Mark added.
"There has already been children coming in to the sensory room and they have loved it. We have bookings right up to Christmas now, which is unbelievable.
"We don't want parents feeling nervous about taking their children for a haircut. We want to alleviate that stress and our team is fully trained to help with that experience.
"It is a booking-only system and those interested can contact us for more details, and for booking enquiries too. We want to say a huge thank you to those who have already supported us over the last week."
For more information on M&Ms Gentleman's Barbers or how to book the sensory room, click here.
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