With the lessons he learnt online, he opened a barber shop at his house in Kampung Teluk Bakong, Lambor Kanan, four years ago, and his clientele has grown to include not just the villagers but policemen from a police station nearby, too.

The 28-year-old said he charges a minimum RM7 per haircut and gets about six clients per day.

He said he didn’t want to let his disability prevent him from earning a living and he was able to succeed with the support of his family and friends. His sister, Noor Fashikin, 32, and parents, Mat Din Mat Piah, 68 and Maimon Mohd Drus, 47, acted as interpreters during the interview.

“I never attended a course but I learned the skills from YouTube. Alhamdulillah, I’ve received a lot of thumbs up from clients. “In the beginning I just cut my friends’ hair and now I have regular clients,” Farid said during a visit by the Sahabat OKU Perak association recently.

Farid, who is the fifth child in a family of seven children, said he loves cutting hair and hopes to buy better barber tools some day.

“I’m using tools I borrowed from friends and some I bought myself, but they’re not durable. Some of my clients have complained that they’re too loud or hot. I’m saving up to buy new equipment, especially the all-important hair trimmer,” said Farid, who would love an opportunity to expand his business.

Sahabat OKU Perak association secretary, Mahzan Mohsin, said they will help the young barber apply for vocational training at Pusat Aspirasi Anak Perak. “He is a good example for people with disabilities to follow,” he said.