A new barbershop/hairdressing business opening its doors to the Gawler community this coming Saturday, 10th December, is slightly different to existing businesses according to the owners.
Business owners James and Sarah Somerville will operate their business in a way that enables families who have children or other family members living with a disability have their hair needs also met.
James and Sarah have a child living with a disability so are acutely aware of the needs of families that is not often met.
Mr Somerville said Beast & Beauty Co, is a hairdressing business with a difference, as it will cater for the whole family, including those who have a family member living with a disability.
“I come from a background in social/youth work and looking after people with special needs,” said Mr Somerville.
“I realised there was a real need today for all people to feel good about themselves, so I created an environment that looks after everyone.”
“A place where men/women/nonbinary people can come to access hair and beauty services and walk away feeling like a million dollars.”
“A place that doesn’t segregate people based on special needs, gender, race, or sexuality.”
“If you walk through our door feeling down, we will do our best to make sure you walk away feeling amazing, and special for the right reasons.”
“For the last 2 years, I have been operating The Bearded Barber, a small shop, located at the rear of our property in Gawler East.
Local Member of Parliament, Mr Tony Piccolo has welcomed the initiative, as often families with children living with a disability are not catered for in many services industries.
Mr Piccolo said that he didn’t believe that it was an intentional omission by business owners to exclude the needs of people living with a disability but rather their lack of knowledge or understanding about their specific needs.
“Sometimes it can be simple things like shop lighting or music that makes the service inaccessible to people living with some types of disability.”
To help families who have a family member living with a disability, Beast & Beauty Co will close their business to the general public on the first Monday of every month and only cater for families who have a family member living with special needs.
Mr Piccolo raised the need for services for people living with disability in State Parliament last week as part of acknowledging International Day for People Living with Disability (Friday 3rd December).
In his speech Mr Piccolo highlighted the new business in Gawler and suggested an accreditation system be introduced so they could become “disability friendly” service providers.
Mr Piccolo said while many living with disabilities required specialised services, there were also a range of everyday needs that could be met, if businesses made some small alterations to the way they operated.
Mr Piccolo said he would be holding discussions with government and the not-for-profit sector to explore how we can make it easier for small business to become more “disability friendly.”