Honestly, I posted a video that came from the heart and went to bed. I woke up and the response has been incredibly heartwarming.

My name is Rushell. I am the founder of Peek Studio a braiding studio that specializes in pain free knotless braids. When I'm not braiding I am living a beautiful, chaotic life in Middletown, Connecticut. I'm a mom of three, I have 7 chickens, 1 fur baby and I've been married for 14 years. My youngest daughter is three years old, and she has a rare genetic disorder called PACS1.

Let me give you a little more background. I started Peek Studio years ago because I was naturally good at braiding, wanted autonomy of my time and I believed people deserved better than what the industry was offering. Then life happened and I closed my doors.

When I found out my youngest diagnosis, I knew I needed to rebuild in a different way. So, I decided to have a four chairs studio this time instead of one to be able to provide jobs. A space big enough to be able to celebrate/showcase other local artist/vendors. A space where I will be able to teach young people and moms how to braid hair.

This would give me the flexibility to let me be there for her doctor's appointments, her therapy, my kids school schedules (three different schools), and every moment in between while still building my braiding business. That is why I reopened Peek Studio at my current location on South Main Street in Middletown. Not just for me. For them. For her.

She is one of the reasons I show up every single day.

So when a mom reached out asking if I would braid her special needs daughter's hair, I did not hesitate for a single second. Because I am that mom. I know what it feels like to wonder if the world will make space for your child. I know what it feels like to just want your baby to feel normal and beautiful and celebrated like everybody else.

She was not sure I would say yes.

That broke my heart. Because the answer was never a question for me. Of course, I would.

What I did not realize until that video went everywhere is just how many families have been turned away, overlooked, or made to feel like their child was too difficult to serve. That is not okay. It has never been okay. Every child, every teen, every adult, regardless of their needs or their abilities, deserves to sit in a chair and feel taken care of. Full stop.

So here is what I am doing about it.

My goal is to serve 10 special needs clients right here in Middletown this first month. Boys, girls, teens, adults. Everyone is welcome. No one will be turned away because of their needs or their ability to pay. I will be offering FREE classes to moms that need help learning how to take care of their autistic kids hair. And I will be advocating for other service providers to be more inclusive (even if its just one day out of the month) for special needs families.

I am not doing this for attention. I am doing this because my daughter taught me that everybody deserves to feel seen.

If you cannot donate, please share this page. A share costs nothing and could mean everything to a family in our community who needs this.

Thank you for showing up. Thank you for seeing what I see. That every single person, no matter who they are or what they are going through, deserves to feel beautiful.

With love,

Rushell

Founder of Peek Studio.

346 South Main Street, Middletown, Connecticut

peekstudioct.com