As the mother of an autistic son, Melissa Stansell knows exactly how challenging a medical exam, dental checkup or haircut can be for an autistic child. The sensory overload of an unusual environment and situation can trigger the child to experience a meltdown, act out and scream, and the parents and caregivers may need to restrain the child to get the necessary task accomplished. As a result, the entire experience becomes stressful for the child, the parents and the service providers alike.

To ease the experience of hair services for autistic children in her area, Stansell launched Autism Nights at her salon, The HeadQuarters in Wilmington, Delaware, earlier this year. On the last Friday of every month, she sets aside a few hours in the evening to book appointments for these VIP guests, and she and her stylists do whatever it takes to help the children and their parents feel comfortable.

“Every child is different, there’s no one magic formula--part of the process is figuring out what works for each child,” says Stansell. “We do whatever it takes to help them over the sensory hump. For one child that might mean turning off the radio, while another might not like the fluorescent lights. One child whose hair I cut likes the pressure of an embrace, so I put him in my lap and hug him with one arm while cutting with the other hand. For another girl, it means cutting her hair in the lobby, because she is fascinated by the rows of colored polish.”

One in 88 children is diagnosed with Autism in the United States. “That means almost everyone knows someone who falls on the spectrum,” says Stansell, who finds it’s the parents who are the most ecstatic to have an understanding environment to bring their children.

“You know, usually there's nothing about the physical appearance of an autistic kid that signals to everyone that this is a child who has special needs," she explains. “So when an autistic child acts out, observers assume the child is a spoiled brat, and the parents have gotten used to having to hold their heads up high and remind themselves that this is their life and they just have to roll with it.”

But even with the extra care Stansell and her staff devote, she says some parents need to restrain their children in order for her or her stylists to complete a hair service. Knowing how that feels as a parent is what prompted her to apply to Wella’s Hairdressers at Heart Charity Challenge. Stansell’s competition essay captured the attention of judges and earned her a third-prize grant of $1,000 for her philanthropy.

Stansell plans to use the money to send herself and three of her stylists through a training program taught by Practice Without Pressure, an organization that teaches children with disabilities strategies for coping with challenging situations and caregivers processes for accomplishing tasks in a loving manner without resorting to restraint. “Right now, we’re kind of winging it, but this program will train us on how to better help these kids more effectively,” says Stansell. “The program costs $300 per person, and I didn’t pursue it before because it wasn’t money I could spend-- so this grant will make a definite difference in the quality of service we can offer these kids.”

For now, Stansell markets her Autism Nights by word of mouth, through her salon website and through information Autism Delaware distributes to parents of newly diagnosed children. She believes once her salon team becomes certified practitioners, they’ll be able to increase the salon program.

“It’s wonderful that a company like Wella is being so supportive of women in all aspects of their career and is stepping up and supporting us with real money and help,” she says. “There’s a lot of personal pride in knowing that you are doing something for others, and it’s great to be able to work with my team members and help instill that feeling within them. This grant will help me continue to grow that.”

In 2013, Wella's Hairdressers at Heart Charity Challenge awarded 20 finalists with grants that totalled $43,000. The next Wella "Supports Your Cause" Charity Challenge will commence in the spring of 2014. For more information and updates, please visit hairdressersatheart.com.

In 2013, Wella's Hairdressers at Heart Charity Challenge awarded 20 finalists with grants that totalled $43,000. The next Wella "Supports Your Cause" Charity Challenge will commence in the spring of 2014. For more information and updates, please visit hairdressersatheart.com. - See more at: http://www.salontoday.com/features/salon-management/Wellas-Charity-Challenge-Salon-Red-Supports-Lost-N-Found-217662121.html#sthash.n0GWwtPY.dpuf

In 2013, Wella's Hairdressers at Heart Charity Challenge awarded 20 finalists with grants that totalled $43,000. The next Wella "Supports Your Cause" Charity Challenge will commence in the spring of 2014. For more information and updates, please visit hairdressersatheart.com. - See more at: http://www.salontoday.com/features/salon-management/Wellas-Charity-Challenge-Salon-Red-Supports-Lost-N-Found-217662121.html#sthash.n0GWwtPY.dpuf