OT Frustration!

Just a suggestion, but wait until he is asleep and just cut the part that hangs in his eyes. Then if the cutting is going good, maybe cut some at the sides and/or back. Barbara in FL who has worked with wiggly adults and some autistic adults

Could you get that clipper attachment for a hoover/vacuum? Then you could just try and get the hoover attachment near him and get a nice short cut.... may last a while!

-- Jo in Scotland

NightMist,

I had some ot the same problems with DS when he was little. Do you have something like an ipod that he enjoys listening to? I found that if he used the ipod, he did not hear the hair as it was being cut and did not object nearly as much. I also made sure he had some favorite portable computer games. I had to use the ipod for dental visits too, or else he would scream as if we were pulling his arm out of a socket. DS has asperger's syndrome which was diagnosed until he was 16.

Hope this helps just a tad.

Debbi > Sometimes even the simplest thngs turn into a trial of patience.

Goodness! What a dilemma. Could you possibly do a bang trim while he's asleep? Hang in there.

Monique in TX

NightMist,

Wish you were close enough. I'd gladly do it for you! *HUGS* for all of you! And best of luck!

Dannielle

OOps I should have read through all the messages. This is what I just suggested on a post also!

You betcha! I think it would be the answer too!

WOOHOO!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

how did my post end up here... I was congratulating Grammy Kathy --- either I need to get some sleep -- or my 'puter is acting up!

Hang in there.... I remember when my DS#3 was little... haircuts were such fun! NOT!!! The only thing worse was the regular bloodwork! I wouldn't tell him where we were going ... but as soon as I turned down the main drive... he would lose it big time. (If I told him where we were going... I'd have to drag him kicking and screaming out from under his bed.... just ot get him into the car!)

We ended up many times with me sitting immediately across from him... holding his hands. We'd play the mirror game. I would make a face and freeze (making direct eye contact) -- and he would have to freeze and imitate my face. (we played this at home too). We got to where he would freeze for 20 -30 seconds at a time. Not a long time.... but enough for a quick snip or two. Then a new face... and a new freeze!

Hi

This almost made me cry tonight. I wish my Dad was still alive because I would call him and ask him for advice for you. Why? Because he was known as the barber in the community of 50,000 that could calmly handle and calm most any disabled, developmentally or otherwise, children and adults. In fact, one day about every six weeks, an entire morning was no one but adults from an assisted living home. It was a very special day for them since they got to see Keith and he always had new jokes, clean ones of course, for all of them and had them and the attendant laughing. I'll never forget the night that Dad came home just before he retired and at dinner was almost in tears since it was the last time he would be cutting their hair. He was almost in tears as he described all the hugs and cards and tears from the able and not so able.

Well so much for not crying. I know it's not what you wanted to hear but it was a walk down memory lane for me.

Is there a reward system that your son responds to that you could start on the back of his head and as he behaved moved on towards the front. Remember your IEP if they try to discipline him/you for not cutting it. Get an action plan from them in writing and a concrete list of suggestions on paper, with signatures. Nothing like making them put up or shut up. It is what I have to do with my fellow teachers. Frustrating I know.

Steve Alaska

Sometimes even the simplest thngs turn into a trial of patience. I am frustrated, and posting rather than calling up and yelling at somebody's voice mail.

Ash needs a haircut.

We have always perched him on the washer, flung a towel around him and given him what amounts to a bowl cut. This is a two, and sometimes three person job. None of us are any good at hair cuts, but we have managed to keep it out of his eyes. He has just gotten too big for this. So far every barber and salon I have called says they will not take a child who cannot sit still when they are told to. Same thing they have said since he was a toddler. The local autistic support groups, so far as I have found, are all about "autistic spectrum" kids, and don't want to know about classic communications impairment. I felt it reasonable to assume that since the largest employer in the city is a center for the developmentally disabled, they would know what professionals in town are adept at dealing with wiggly cients who lack communication skills. Here I am, four phone calls in four weeks later, with one call back from a guy who said he will put together a local resources package for us, the school is fussing about his bangs being too long, and we are afraid of inadvertantly putting somebody's eye out if we tackle it ourselves again. What are we supposed to do? Wrap him like a cat you need to medicate? The school wants it cut asap, but has no clue as to how we are to accomplish this. Oh I just love it when when the school or some such place wants you to do something Right Now! but has no idea how you are supposed to do it.

I swear one more complaint and I am going to take some hair sculpting gel and give him a hair helmet, and then just let it grow until I can tail it back!

NightMist

Videos have worked in the past, but not right now... Pillbug's hair is irritating me; it will be a haircutting weekend!

(I, too, gave up on outside barbers... There's no vomiting, at least, when I do the whack job at home...)

-- Anita --

Back when DH had hair and no time, I used to be the official barber. Not my best skill. We had a sort of comb thingy, longer teeth on one side and shorter on the other, that opened up to install razor blades. Then all I had to do was comb it through his hair. Long on top and short on the sides. Maybe a little scissoring at the bottom to tidy up. But he could have wiggled all over the place, and the comb structure completely kept fingers away from razors. Roberta in D (Not sure we still have it, but I'll go look if you want!)

"NightMist" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@news.madbbs.com...

That sounds great for my boys too. I do have a set of electric clippers, but it is a bit of a palaver as the rechargeable battery never seems to have enough ooomph to get through their hair, so I have to keep it plugged in. That means I have to do them in the kitchen, rather than outside in the yard.

Lizzy

Is there a children's salon *anywhere* near you? Raechel (the SMDGD) goes to one in Lizard Land and the beauticians there are all experienced in dealing with squirmy, wriggly kids and the beautician who did her hair used special scissors that had tiny rounded points instead of the sharp points we are all familiar with. She started going when she was about 3 and couldn't sit still for more than a minute or two at a time. The kid shop has all the popular videos available and each beautician's station has a monitor and the kids can even sit in chairs that look like cars (Lightnin' McQueen and a Cinderella cars are ones that come to mind). We took her just after Christmas and she was good as gold during the haircut -- watched Sponge Bob! Anyway, it's a thought -- something to look into anyway. HMMM, does Ash have a favourite video that helps to keep him still? If there's no kid beauty shop anywhere within a reasonable distance, you could get a portable DVD player, and have him watch the video in the hopes that it would keep him still. Folks who have never had to deal with a special needs kiddo have no clue what is involved. (((((((NightMist and Family))))) and tell the school to go pound sand if they can't help you find someone who deals with special needs kids!!! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

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DH & I always cut each other's hair. We haven't been to a barber/ hairdresser in years. I started cutting his first, when our only barber in town passed away. I was really hesitant to do it, but he insisted. I told him he had to say the magic words first before I'd touch it. "I don't care what it looks like, I can wear a hat." LOL. It turned out to be easier than I thought. I can cut hair as good as any barber now!

Sherry