World Autism Awareness Day: Fundraiser kicks off for Edmonton-area pre-school programs

Children's Autism Services held a fundraiser on Thursday to help kids look their best while raising money for intervention programs.

A month-long fundraiser for Children’s Autism Services of Edmonton’s pre-school programs kicked off Tuesday, World Autism Awareness Day.

For the duration of April, designated World Autism Month, donations are being collected at Beaners Fun Cuts For Kids, a hair salon specializing in sensory-friendly hair cuts.

“Since (Jaxon) was born, we’ve always struggled getting haircuts with him. He was just having a really hard time with the noise and stuff like that, and we’d actually have to hold him down and he’d be crying,” recalled the nine-year-old’s mother, Sara Gartner.

“He loves coming here (and) getting his hair cut. He sits so well.”

On Tuesday, Jaxon’s hair was trimmed and tinted pink. He also requested lightning bolts carved into the sides.

Beaners’ stylists use a variety of techniques to make the experience more accommodating: they let kids choose a chair in the salon, recommend appointments during quiet times of the day, offer a choice between clippers and scissors, and work around soothing devices like TV and video games.

“When they come in and they say, ‘Just scissors today,’ OK, it’s just scissors,” said manager and senior stylist of the Sherwood Park location, Faye Hatoum.

A mother herself, she tries to make both the children and their parents comfortable and confident, even if some parts of the experience are uncomfortable or upsetting.

“We let them know that we hear them, but we’re going to continue and just (make) the parents and the child feel comfortable, that this is something in life that does happen and it’s OK,” Hatoum said.

According to Children’s Autism Services of Edmonton, one in 50 Canadian children are diagnosed with autism.

The agency’s services that will benefit from the fundraiser include free developmental screenings, home programs and summer camps.

“There are many children who are only getting professional services… once they hit the school system, but the research is very clear that early intervention provides the best outcomes,” said Thomas Pasterfield, the agency’s communications and fund development manager.

Beaners has four locations in St. Albert, Edmonton and Sherwood Park.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Amanda Anderson