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A Kind Barber for People With Special Needs

Billy Dinnerstein opened a shop for kids who have autism or other sensory processing disorders

As told to Robin Westen,

AARP

Published August 15, 2024

Billy Dinnerstein smiling at a young client, Leonidas Ramirez, who is smiling and holding a hair dryer while sitting in the barber chair

Barber Billy Dinnerstein at work with client Leonidas Ramirez.

Jim Wright

“I come to work every day because I have to pay bills, but if I could, I would do this for nothing.”

Billy Dinnerstein, 54, is the owner of Your Kind of Cuts in Nutley, New Jersey.

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Fourteen years ago, I walked away from a very lucrative career in trucking warehouse logistics. My boss told me I was making too much money, so I decided to go find a job where I’d be the one to say how much money was too much for my family. Barbering was in the back of my mind because it was a recession-proof industry. No matter what’s going on in the world, hair keeps growing.

One of the first clients I had was a 12-year-old boy with autism. People with sensory processing disorders can be a challenge to work on, because they don’t necessarily like to hold still or be touched. But back then, I had just started cutting hair, so everyone was a challenge for me. I didn’t really make a distinction. Over time, I saw more and more kids and adults with these kinds of issues coming to me. That first boy is still with me, 14 years later.

I grew up in and out of foster care, so I learned early on how to read people quickly. When a parent and child come into my shop, I can see if there’s tension. And I can work to reduce that tension.

I use commonsense approaches so the client will have an easier experience. For example, if they have a favorite song, we ask Alexa to play it. I use round safety scissors, so there’s less worry about sudden movement. I try to meet each client where they’re at. If you’re looking for the perfect haircut, I might not be able to help you. But if you’re looking for me to teach your kids some etiquette on how to get a haircut, I’m your guy.

Four years ago, I opened my own shop. We built it with our clientele’s needs in mind — we even have a sensory wall where kids can explore tactile sensations. But it’s also a place where people understand. If your kid is lying on the floor, kicking, screaming, you don’t have to apologize. You’re not offending anybody.

These families have a lot of extra expenses. Doctors aren’t free; therapists aren’t free. I come to work every day because I have to pay bills, but if I could, I would do this for nothing.