JC Penny and Special Needs

This is local for our area, I just wanted to give everyone an FYI:

http://www.kvewtv.com/article/2012/aug/02/autistic-child-denied-free-hair-cut/
Krista Archibald's 10 year old son Grayson- went for a free haircut yesterday at the Kennewick JCPenney.

The boy's nanny took her son into the salon, sat him down, and explained to the stylist, that Grayson has special needs.
Krista Archibald claims the stylist refused to cut her son's hair..

"I was disgusted that somebody would treat another human being like that they would be so judgmental and that they would do it to a child someone that can't defend themselves- children can't defend themselves anyways let alone a child with special needs." says Archibald.

Grayson is autistic and completely non-verbal but has received regular haircuts at another salon for the last 7 years- Archibald says there has never been a problem.

Archibald says her son likes haircuts and the only gesture he made while sitting in the chair was covering his ears- to block out some of the noise.

A personal injury attorney we contacted says if a business has a reasonable reason to withhold services they are within their rights- but if they dont have a good reason, it could be discrimination.
The management at JCPenney refereed us to corporate headquarters -- it has not returned our call for a comment.
Archibald says now, it's not a free haircut she wants - it's an apology .

"I'm not sure what I want to hear I'm not sure they can really make the situation right."
Krista Archibald says she has been offered another free haircut from JCPenney but refuses to bring her son in again.

Managers at the JCPenney hair salon did say they are aware of the situation and will be handling it appropriately.

***

Her original FB status update about it that got this started is here:

https://www.facebook.com/krista.archibald/posts/3816128316581
"Normally I wouldn't rant on FB but this calls for it, and I've never been more pissed than I am at this moment. So Grayson's nanny just called me because she was taking Grayson to get a haircut at JC Penny's because they were offering free haircuts to kids. The stylist REFUSED to cut his hair because he has AUTISM, and said she is not doing it!!! WOW what a way to run a business!!!! So maybe they should be advertising FREE HAIRCUTS but not for kids with a DISABILITY!!! Needless to say JC Pennys will never get another dime of my $$$$"

Quoting {The Socialist 2.0}:" This is local for our area, I just wanted to give everyone an FYI: http://www.kvewtv.com/article/2 ... [snip!] ... FREE HAIRCUTS but not for kids with a DISABILITY!!! Needless to say JC Pennys will never get another dime of my $$$$""

That is really really frustrating. I am getting heated just reading this.

Omg the audacity of some people.

My son is also autistic and this is just ridiculous.

That's terrible. Poor baby. I hope mom keeps pushing the issue. That's bs.

I can't believe the stylist acted that way if the child was quietly sitting in the chair and enjoys hair cuts there shouldn't have been a problem I see why the mother is upset I would be as well!

wow..thats so sad. shame on that stylist.

Well ... if she has never cut his hair before, how does she know he won't move suddenly or if his motion to cover his ears is as she's cutting and she accidentally whacks off a huge chunk of hair.

And if she was nervous and did it anyhow, I'm sure shaky hands make for an excellent haircut.

Sounds like she was doomed either way.  

Quoting Danielle: Jack&Basil'sMom:" Well ... if she has never cut his hair before, how does she know he won't move suddenly or if his motion ... [snip!] ... nervous and did it anyhow, I'm sure shaky hands make for an excellent haircut. Sounds like she was doomed either way.  "

But that could happen with a normal child too. I used to squirm all over during hair cuts because I was so excited about them. I always had to get layers so you couldn't tell I made the stylist mess up.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Moo-mmyஐ:</b>" But that could happen with a normal child too. I used to squirm all over during hair cuts because ... [snip!] ... hair cuts because I was so excited about them. I always had to get layers so you couldn't tell I made the stylist mess up."</blockquote>


You're right, but if he's uncomfortable or she's hurting him, maybe she was worried he couldn't communicate such effectively or something. Some people are simply not comfortable with those who have special needs. It's not necessarily ignorance of such things, just inexperience. My niece is autistic and has sensory disabilities and when my sister went into labor I watched her children. I'm not used to being around people with special needs, so I was nervous I would upset or hurt her without meaning to.

I don't know. I doubt she straight up said "I don't cut autistic kids' hair, sorry for your luck". I think maybe there is more to this story.

Quoting Danielle: Jack&Basil'sMom:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Moo-mmyஐ:</b>" But that could happen with a normal ... [snip!] ... I doubt she straight up said "I don't cut autistic kids' hair, sorry for your luck". I think maybe there is more to this story."

I'm sure there is more to it, but it makes JC Penny look bad when they don't respond. If I was a major shopping outlet like that I'd be apologizing before I offered another free haircut. Obviously there was a miscommunication somewhere, but what bugs me the most is they offered to cut the child's hair and didn't apologize for whatever was lost in translation. I'd like to hear the stylists side for sure though.

Ehhh...sounds like she just didn't want to be liable for freaking him out or whatever.

Personally, blaming the whole company for one hairdresser seems really smurfing stupid.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Moo-mmyஐ:</b>" I'm sure there is more to it, but it makes JC Penny look bad when they don't respond. If I was a ... [snip!] ... the child's hair and didn't apologize for whatever was lost in translation. I'd like to hear the stylists side for sure though."</blockquote>




In such cases, apologizing can be considered an admission of guilt and if this was not a case of discrimination, that can also make them look bad.

Maybe they haven't had enough time to get a statement from the stylist and whatnot yet.

There's tons of maybes and what ifs, but I just can't jump to the "OMG what a bitch!" stuff without hearing more.

I know some people with special needs or other disabilities can be extremely sensitive about such things and get very offended very quickly. For instance, at my hotel, a lady who had a daughter with physical handicaps stayed here. I noticed they booked a regular room and I asked if it'd be helpful to have a room with a handicap-accessible tin and such. They flipped the smurf out on me, that I was a discriminating bitch, etc.  

<blockquote><b>Quoting Dr. Paradigm Shift:</b>" Ehhh...sounds like she just didn't want to be liable for freaking him out or whatever. Personally, blaming the whole company for one hairdresser seems really smurfing stupid. "</blockquote>




I agree

The story pisses me off that the stylist would do that, but she should have explained herself or let someone more qualified to cut the childs hair. Sucks that one crummy ass person makes a company look bad.