In Morovis, barber Luis J. Guzmán Rosado, known as Nony, has adapted his Isla Menos barbershop so that neurodivergent children and young people, or those with functional diversity, can get a haircut with calm, respect and empathy. His approach has gone viral on social media and rests on three elements he builds into his work: inclusion, empathy and respect.
Guzmán Rosado said he comes out to greet each child at the door so they do not first see him from the barber’s chair, and said the chair is no longer a fixed part of the shop; children decide where they can be. He noted that common thinking holds that children must obey adults, but that their brains operate differently, and said adults also have much to learn from children.
He aims for every visit to be marked by understanding and empathy for any client, and his purpose is for children and young people to find a safe space where they feel calm and respected and receive peace instead of fear during a haircut.