6 minute read
Accessibility
WORDS NATASHA RIGLER
EVERYBODY’S
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SALON EXPERIENCE ‘LIFE-CHANGING'
Hannah Klewpatinond from HK Hair in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, has made her salon fully accessible. Clients can enter via a ramp and, once inside, signage is clear and the fl oor is on one level.
Although Hannah’s mirrors are anchored to the wall, they can be removed and placed on tripods. The most signifi cant feature is the fully accessible sink – wheelchair and scooter users can drive right up to it and have their hair washed without getting out of their seat.
This has been life-changing for one client. ‘The lady is in her 40s and hasn’t been able to visit a salon for 20 years,’ Hannah explains. ‘Other salons just didn’t have the sink space for her because of her chair, meaning she would have needed to arrive with wet hair.
‘The lady can now get her salon experience and there is a real element of it being a special event when she comes in.’
With one in fi ve Brits living with a disability, we look at how you can make your salon or barbershop accessible to all.
There are 14 million people with disabilities in the UK – and, sadly, they are still fi ghting for equality. Access to everyday places is still an issue, and this includes salons and barbershops. Entrance steps can form a barrier, getting close to washbasins is out of the question for some, and clients may have diffi culties communicating with stylists. What can be done?
Make a difference
Th e Equality Act 2010 intends to reduce discrimination for people with disabilities. Under the Act, business owners must make reasonable adjustments to their premises to overcome physical access barriers.
THERE IS A MISCONCEPTION THAT ’DISABILITY’ MEANS ’MOBILITY ISSUE’. PEOPLE DEAL WITH DISABILITIES THAT OTHERS DON'T KNOW ABOUT
COMMUNICATION GET LEARNING
Barber Kyle Suthers was born deaf but grew up fully verbal thanks to childhood speech therapy. For most of his 14-year career, he communicated with clients via lip-reading. Last year he received a cochlear implant, meaning he can now hear.
Kyle runs StoneDeaf HairDesigns in Leeds, and has clients with both physical and mental disabilities. ‘Being deaf has given me a good insight into how our industry treats clients and professionals with disabilities,’ he says. ‘Just learning about some physical and mental disabilities could give salon owners an insight into what people need. It is also key to advertise that you’re a welcoming place for people with disabilities.’
He believes having one staff member trained in sign language would be an incredible asset. ‘Some deaf clients may shy away from traditional services because they are unable to communicate their needs in a way that is fully understood,’ he says.
Nicole Hooper, a tutor manager at disability charity Scope, says: ‘People with disabilities should be able to go and have their hair cut or receive a beauty treatment like anyone else. We aren’t saying knock down walls, but there is an opportunity for business owners if they make a few adjustments. Getting under counters can be diffi cult for wheelchair users, so raise the height. Consider portable hairdryers, as they are easier to use with somebody sitting in an electric scooter.
‘Th ere is also a misconception that “disability” means “mobility issue”,’ she continues. ‘People deal with disabilities that others don’t know about. Th ink about conditions such as autism, epilepsy, visual and hearing impairments, nonverbal and sensory issues. Many people can have anxiety and mental health struggles too.
‘You can adapt the working day so these people can come before or after opening hours. Lights can be dimmed for certain clients, and music turned off . Children may benefi t from visiting the salon before a haircut is even attempted. You can even leave moist tissue in the toilets for clients who suff er from a condition like infl ammatory bowel disease.’
The purple pound
According to Scope, the collective spending power of the people with disabilities in the UK – known as the purple pound – is more than £274bn. Nicole says there is a huge opportunity to be had within the hair and beauty industry, as people with disabilities want and deserve haircuts and beauty treatments.
‘By making places a little bit more accessible and by being a little bit more caring, businesses can have a piece of the purple pound,’ she explains. ‘We’re not saying everyone can dig up their entrance steps, but a portable ramp could be purchased. If it cost £500 but the person you bought it for visited regularly, you’ve gained a piece of the purple pound.
‘Our passion is for everyone to be treated the same, and with that comes a great business opportunity.’
Community spirit
Kerry Hooper-Cross, owner of Styles Hair Salon in Chard, Somerset,
contacted Scope when the charity opened a bridal boutique, Th e Bridal Room, in nearby Bridport, Dorset.
Kind-hearted Kerry provided free hairstyling for a promotional photoshoot and regularly displays Scope’s pre-loved gowns in her salon. She even bought a full-length boutique mirror for Th e Bridal Room using her own money. As a thank you, Th e Bridal Room’s staff recommend Styles to brides-to-be.
Kerry, whose salon is disability friendly, says: ‘It’s important to me to make everybody feel the same. I’ve always supported Scope, as disabilities are close to my heart, so I wanted to help when I heard they were opening Th e Bridal Room. It’s the least I can do, given the diff erence they make.’
RESOURCES
NHBF’s guide to making salons and barbershops disabilityfriendly: nhbf.co.uk/disability-friendly Learn how to feel more comfortable about disability with Scope’s End the Awkward campaign: bit.ly/end-the-awkward The Equality Act 2010’s Employment Code of Practice:
bit.ly/equality-act-code-2010
In the workplace
Employers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to the workplace when hiring an employee with a disability. Alexandra Farmer, head of team and solicitor at WorkNest, explains: ‘If there is a physical feature of the premises that puts a person with a disability at a substantial disadvantage in comparison with those without disabilities, they have the duty to make reasonable adjustments. Th is could include, for example, a feature of, or an approach to, the exit from or access to a building.’ Alexandra says it is not just physical features of a building that need to be considered either. Auxiliary aids, including adapted keyboards and voice recognition software, should be provided if the employee requires it to do their job. Steps also need to be taken to ensure internal policies and rules do not put an employee with a disability at a disadvantage.
BEAUTY TIPS ASK QUESTIONS
Sophia Wyatt, a disabled beauty therapist and clinic owner based in Surrey, says salon owners and therapists should ask themselves:
Are your treatments inclusive?
Is your salon accessible?
Are you and your staff trained and confi dent to work with clients who have additional physical or medical needs? Do you share photos or stories of all your clients, or just the ones you think look the best?
Sophia explains: ‘Don’t be afraid to talk about disability and medical conditions – ask your clients about the condition, how it affects their lives, their treatment, and how other people react to them. Ask them if they would be happy if you shared their story to raise awareness and show how diverse your treatments are. Shout from the rooftops that you are here to help!’
