GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Tuesday morning the Douglas J. Aveda Institutedowntown Grand Rapids was bustling with a special group of clients. Students with special needs from Valleywood Middle School in Kentwood were treated to their third Annual Day of Beauty.
From mohawks to manicures, and all around first-class treatment, this group of middle schoolers enjoyed a day being treated like they do not have a disability.
“They are just as important as anyone else,” said Meegin Rozeboom, Valleywood Middle School special education teacher. “They deserve to be treated like royalty too.”
For the past three years in May, the Douglas J. Aveda Institute in Grand Rapids teamed their student stylists with Valleywood Middle School students who are in special education classes.
“It’s neat,” said William Forton, Valleywood Middle School student. “It’s a lot different than my old haircut place.”
From the smiles to caring treatment from both parties, it was clear that the positive feeling you can get after a haircut will stick with them.
Student stylists made accommodations for students to ensure they got the service they want.
Some stylists said they enjoy helping the students’ parents out, even with something as simple as giving the students a new ‘do.
“So to have the load kind of taken off of [their parents], where we can provide that service and kind of give them a break, and make girls like Jersey just feel gorgeous and like a princess, and amazing; because you are gorgeous,” said Jessica Kamps, a senior student at the Douglas J. Aveda Institute in Grand Rapids.
And at the end of the day, many students had similar ways of saying thanks.
“They are all the best teachers ever,” said Matt, a Valleywood Middle School student.
