Monday, 3 November marked a very special milestone for Prior's Court young person Dylan as he visited The Cutting Bar in Newbury for his very first trip to the barbers. This was a completely new experience for him - and one he managed brilliantly from start to finish.

Dylan walked from the minibus through the busy town centre before arriving at the barbers. Once inside, he calmly waited for his turn, sitting patiently for around ten minutes for his turn.  Dylan had a cape put on and allowed the hairdresser to cut a good amount from his long, curly hair.

Afterwards, to celebrate this fantastic achievement, Dylan and Autism Practitioners Jenny and Gillian enjoyed a drink at a nearby café before heading back to the bus. It was a lovely way to end what was a really positive and successful trip.

This visit was particularly special because Dylan had not had a haircut outside of Prior’s Court before. Even then. in his time here, he has only had small trims or the occasional knot carefully removed by staff on site, due to the length and texture of his hair. One of the reasons for taking him to the hairdresser was to help prevent it from tangling further.

Dylan coped exceptionally well throughout the visit, especially considering the new surroundings, the background noise of hairdryers, and the presence of other people. To help him feel comfortable, staff prepared a simple schedule for the day and made the trip enjoyable by including a café visit afterwards.

He was supported by Jenny and Gillian who both know him well and have built a strong, trusting relationship with him. Their familiar presence and calm encouragement helped make this new experience such a success. Jenny and Gillian also ensured he had access to his sensory strategies such as a balloon, crunchy foods and a chewie. 

This is a long-term success story as the Summerhill team worked to get Dylan comfortable on community visits/ 

Jenny said: "We are extremely proud of what Dylan has achieved, as he can be very noise sensitive and he coped so well.  It is achievements like this that make us smile and feel as if we are doing a good job in developing his independence in the community by exposing him to these new opportunities.  It shows just how capable Dylan can be if he is given the opportunities to try new experiences."

The plan is for Dylan to return to the barbers after Christmas for another trim - and perhaps a light thinning of his thick curls.

This experience highlights the importance of creating opportunities for autistic young people with complex needs to explore new environments, develop life skills and grow their independence - all at their own pace, and with the right support.

See other examples of young people achievements