Ome-Nma (Feel Good)

The Ome-nma Program is designed to provide goods and services pertaining to proper grooming and hygiene for a boost in confidence and self-esteem.

Promoting confidence and independence

The goal of this program is to ensure persons with autism and other developmental disabilities are able to receive proper personal hygiene and grooming routines while taking into consideration the sensory needs of the persons. This program is designed to boost confidence and improve self-esteem for persons with a disability, as they become more integrated into the community.

WHY OUR “OME-NMA” PROGRAM?

The term “Ome-nma” (pronounced O-may-ma) means Make me Feel Good.

Performing everyday tasks can be especially challenging for children and adults with sensory sensitivities. Going to the hair salon, getting dressed, and using deodorants are just a short list of activities that may be particularly daunting for the neuro-diverse community and sensory-sensitive persons.

Some persons in the community we serve may react negatively to personal hygiene and grooming routines because they become overwhelmed by certain types of touch, smell, etc. Many parents report that one of the most distressing activities is going for a haircut. This is often accompanied by maladaptive behaviors. In most cases, parents either cut their children’s hair themselves or rely on word of mouth or on web communities to find salon recommendations that cater to persons with autism and other sensory processing issues.

The program is designed to make the neuro-diverse community look good and feel great by supporting the learning of proper social skills, including proper grooming, dressing, and hygiene. The program will work toward making resources available for young adults and adults to practice these skills at home, out in the community, and in the workplace environment. In order to improve social and vocational outcomes, as well as build self-esteem, providing resources for personal hygiene and grooming is very vital. Personal care resources represent a foundational set of skills needed for persons with ASD to achieve independence and improve their quality of life.

Goals & Objectives

Many families with loved ones with autism and other related disabilities simply can’t afford these materials and items or pay for salon services due to the economic hardships they are facing. The aim of this program is to ensure that individuals continue to maintain proper grooming and hygiene by:

Overcoming grooming challenges – Partnering with Occupational Therapists to create a training guide to provide information that will help prepare caregivers and families for the haircutting experience and other sensory-related services.

Building Confidence – Partnering with Hair Salons and Spas and providing them with information and training on strategies they can implement to make the experience of receiving salon/spa services more tolerable and successful.

Partnering with companies that make Adaptive Clothing & Footwear Designs (and other General clothing) in order to promote independence in dressing to the extent possible and then assistance to the caregiver when the assisted dressing is needed.

Who benefits?

Neuro-diverse persons with disabilities

Low-income adults with disabilities across the age spectrum who need increased access to grooming

Network Partners Community-based Organizations that serve individuals with autism and other special needs

Adults with disabilities who attend day programs, which allows them to be involved in job readiness programs

Agencies who are involved in helping support individuals with job readiness
Families of individuals with disabilities who require training on how to support them

How does the Ome-Nma Program?

Autism Ally Group receives requests from persons, families, or organizations in need of clothing and grooming items. Online requests are registered on our database and tracked on a first-come, first-serve basis

For In-Kind Donations received from our generous Partners/Donors are documented and stored in a safe and secure place located in a low-traffic area and easily accessible. Items are distributed:

Directly to families of persons with disabilities in neighboring communities
Through Agencies that provide services to persons with disabilities: Therapeutic centers for persons with special needs; Adult Day programs; Group Homes; Daycare Centers etc.

FOR MONETARY DONATIONS

Monetary donations received from our generous Partners/Donors.
Autism Ally will partner with approved Hair Salons and Spas.
Monetary donations will be used in procuring Salon/Spa gift cards
Salon gift cards will be issued to persons with disabilities who qualify to receive the cards.
Qualified persons with disabilities will use these gift cards to pay for Salon/Spa related services at those participating salons and spas.