We all know that getting a much needed haircut can be a bit of a time consuming ordeal which leaves us feeling rather inpatient, but for people with autism the whole experience can be more daunting than most people realise.
However the experience can be made all the more easy especially if you have an understanding and patient barber who is willing to help them through the experience, and for one 16 year old boy named Evan O’Dwyer, from Blackpool, Co Cork, he has exactly that barber who is willing to go the extra mile for his well known and regular customer of 14 years.
Young Evan and his barber Donnacha O’Connell have become a viral hit in recent days after Evan’s mum uploaded a Facebook post paying tribute to caring the barber after he happily went out of his place of business to help his long serving customer and good friend Evan.
In what can only be described as a true act of generosity and goodwill Donnacha has been praised by many on social media after he happily cut Evan’s hair in the backseat of his mums car after the teenager became overwhelmed in the local barber shop.
According to Evan’s mum Deirdre the remarkable act happened when she and Evan went to Baldy Barbers in Blackpool to get his haircut.
However after a short stay in the barbers Evan decided to leave and return to the car which Deirdre describes as his ‘comfort zone’, but rather than let things be the helpful Donnacha along with the assistance of Evan’s brother Dylan began to cut his hair in the back of the car when Evan was much more relaxed.
A short time later a happy and delighted Deirdre took to Facebook to praise the barber and his brother for their willingness and compassion, saying: “It’s great when you have a brilliant barber and who totally understand autism and who will go to any lengths to make your child feel comfortable”.
Deidre also explained Evan’s fondness for the saying it soothes him, the grateful mother explained: “I got a new car last July and there’s 46,852km on my car. We do that much driving with him. It soothes him. It prevents a meltdown. If Evan is happy, we have a happy household”.