Autistic Man Finally Gets Dream Tattoo Even After More Than A Few Shops Refuse To Tattoo Him
This is a story about Buzz chasing his dream. Buzz is a 23-year-old guy diagnosed with autism and he had wanted a tattoo for years. However, many of the parlors his mom took him to refused to ink him.
“As a child, he loved the fake ones and would freak out when they washed off,” Buzz’s mom Sandi Green told KTVU. She said her son repeatedly asked to get a real one, but she told him he’d have to wait until he was older. Green thought she’d make Buzz’s dream a reality during his 23rd birthday.
Even Buzz’s doctor supported the idea. But when Green started taking Buzz to local tattoo shops, they either turned them down or quoted very high prices. She said their reaction was understandable as her son stands 6’3″ tall and weighs 200 pounds, and it was unclear how he would react to the needle.
Image credits: Northwest Inkorporated
They continued their search, until meeting with Pat Masga at Northwest Inkorporated.
“When Buzz arrived he had a huge smile. From the moment I met him and that’s when I told myself that this tattoo is getting done – no matter what adjustments I have to make,” Masga said. “Whether it took me five hours or five sessions, I was willing to do it. He sat like a champ, didn’t complain or quit, and we did it!”
Buzz got Tommy from the 1990s Nickelodeon show “The Rugrats,” and he couldn’t be happier. Masga wrote a Facebook post about their encounter on his shop’s page, and it went viral, generating a whopping 377,000 likes and 165,000 shares
More info: Facebook
Image credits: Northwest Inkorporated
Image credits: Northwest Inkorporated
Image credits: Northwest Inkorporated
Image credits: Northwest Inkorporated
People related to Buzz’s story in heartwarming ways
"Buzz should be able to regret his decision later in life like everyone else." :D Exactly, that's the whole point.
Exactly, autistic adults should be allowed to choose for themselves and make the same potential mistakes other adults make
Load More Replies...I'm Autistic, and I'm the caregiver for my 30-year-old nephew who's Autism is more severe. Lack of services available, such as dentists, who will work with autistic adults in my city is pretty huge. We face discrimination everyday here, so I am very glad that this gentleman made Buzz's dreams come true!!
Your nephew is really fortunate to have you in his corner.
Load More Replies...Buzz isn't a child. If he wants a tatoo he should be able to get one. Turning him down is discrimination plain and simple.
Ultimately it should be if someone has capacity to consent, this guy clearly did but there is a lot of rules and regulations around mentally disabled people being able to make decisions like this, of course there are a million different examples of this but ultimately, capacity to consent is all that matters.
Load More Replies...Playing devil's advocate, I can see both sides of this story. I'm glad he was able to get his tattoo(s)! someone in the post commented about this being a litgious society--couldn't agree more--but it was great that someone took the chance in order to help him out. someone else commented that he should be able to regret his decisions (to get tattoos) like everyone else--while i found it funny (funny ha-ha), i haven't met many that actually regret them. Ink rocks!
Taken from the article: She said their reaction was understandable as her son stands 6’3″ tall and weighs 200 pounds, and it was unclear how he would react to the needle. I cannot blame any tattoo artists who refused to ink him, while being afraid that he would in worst case become aggressive because of the needle. I believe that anyone should not have to be afraid while doing their job - that includes tattoo artists.
Good mom, understanding both sides (and apparently having managed Buzz' expectations accordingly too)
Load More Replies...I hate when ppl turn down my 15y.o. sis just because she's got autism...... She can make her life decisions ppl!!!!!!!!!!! She can say what and why she wants something...! She's not any different then the rest of us! AAAAAAAnyway.... got that out of the way... phew! Cool tattoo dude!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They would be breaking the law giving a 15yr old a tattoo though.
Load More Replies...Differently abled is very different from being disabled. NW Ink got that. So touching. Buzz has gone through so many struggles, and has to fight for so much, it's amazing that he has this absolute joy.
I'm Autistic and I have tons of tattoos. It's ridiculous that people think he shouldn't have a tattoo due to his Autism.
It’s good that he was able to get the tattoo! I’m happy for him, and proud of the man who provided the inking!
Autism does NOT equate to a lack of capacity. I get the reservations from some parlours, particularly in a day and age where the whole world wants to sue each other. But so pleased he found somewhere that was comfortably looking beyond the label and appreciating that if he wants a tattoo, he has every right to one.
great artist, great tattoe and two happy people, what do want more
Woah Buzz, you're waaay cooler than me. I would scream in horror and pain if I got a tattoo. Hope you enjoy it!
Bless you for taking the time to understand what he wanted and the kindness to
I hope he is happy over his new tattoo when he has the same rights about this like anyone else.
Rugrats is one of my most hated cartoons so I had to get past that, but whatever, it's HIS choice, not mine.
relax you fools. think of it from the tattoo artists point of view. autistic people may be unpredictable and move suddenly, causing injury, maybe they just don't want to have to deal with that?
Why? Let him live his life however he wants to. Tattoo-hater.
Load More Replies...I guess that is why people prefer them over fake ones...
Load More Replies..."Buzz should be able to regret his decision later in life like everyone else." :D Exactly, that's the whole point.
Exactly, autistic adults should be allowed to choose for themselves and make the same potential mistakes other adults make
Load More Replies...I'm Autistic, and I'm the caregiver for my 30-year-old nephew who's Autism is more severe. Lack of services available, such as dentists, who will work with autistic adults in my city is pretty huge. We face discrimination everyday here, so I am very glad that this gentleman made Buzz's dreams come true!!
Your nephew is really fortunate to have you in his corner.
Load More Replies...Buzz isn't a child. If he wants a tatoo he should be able to get one. Turning him down is discrimination plain and simple.
Ultimately it should be if someone has capacity to consent, this guy clearly did but there is a lot of rules and regulations around mentally disabled people being able to make decisions like this, of course there are a million different examples of this but ultimately, capacity to consent is all that matters.
Load More Replies...Playing devil's advocate, I can see both sides of this story. I'm glad he was able to get his tattoo(s)! someone in the post commented about this being a litgious society--couldn't agree more--but it was great that someone took the chance in order to help him out. someone else commented that he should be able to regret his decisions (to get tattoos) like everyone else--while i found it funny (funny ha-ha), i haven't met many that actually regret them. Ink rocks!
Taken from the article: She said their reaction was understandable as her son stands 6’3″ tall and weighs 200 pounds, and it was unclear how he would react to the needle. I cannot blame any tattoo artists who refused to ink him, while being afraid that he would in worst case become aggressive because of the needle. I believe that anyone should not have to be afraid while doing their job - that includes tattoo artists.
Good mom, understanding both sides (and apparently having managed Buzz' expectations accordingly too)
Load More Replies...I hate when ppl turn down my 15y.o. sis just because she's got autism...... She can make her life decisions ppl!!!!!!!!!!! She can say what and why she wants something...! She's not any different then the rest of us! AAAAAAAnyway.... got that out of the way... phew! Cool tattoo dude!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They would be breaking the law giving a 15yr old a tattoo though.
Load More Replies...Differently abled is very different from being disabled. NW Ink got that. So touching. Buzz has gone through so many struggles, and has to fight for so much, it's amazing that he has this absolute joy.
I'm Autistic and I have tons of tattoos. It's ridiculous that people think he shouldn't have a tattoo due to his Autism.
It’s good that he was able to get the tattoo! I’m happy for him, and proud of the man who provided the inking!
Autism does NOT equate to a lack of capacity. I get the reservations from some parlours, particularly in a day and age where the whole world wants to sue each other. But so pleased he found somewhere that was comfortably looking beyond the label and appreciating that if he wants a tattoo, he has every right to one.
great artist, great tattoe and two happy people, what do want more
Woah Buzz, you're waaay cooler than me. I would scream in horror and pain if I got a tattoo. Hope you enjoy it!
Bless you for taking the time to understand what he wanted and the kindness to
I hope he is happy over his new tattoo when he has the same rights about this like anyone else.
Rugrats is one of my most hated cartoons so I had to get past that, but whatever, it's HIS choice, not mine.
relax you fools. think of it from the tattoo artists point of view. autistic people may be unpredictable and move suddenly, causing injury, maybe they just don't want to have to deal with that?
Why? Let him live his life however he wants to. Tattoo-hater.
Load More Replies...I guess that is why people prefer them over fake ones...
Load More Replies...
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