For some people with autism, ambient light and background noise inside the supermarket may lead to emotional distress and may further develop into an emotional meltdown. “COLES”, a chain supermarket in Australia, has recently launched “Quiet Hour” for autistic customers across the country. It is fixed on every Tuesday from 10:30am to 11:30am, during which they will dim the lights, reduce the sound of music in the supermarket, and suspend the collection of trolleys to minimize the stimulation for people with autism.
In collaboration with Autism Spectrum Australia, this program has received positive feedbacks since early testing and now has been expanded to 173 supermarkets. According to parents with autistic children, such service is rare. The quiet hour can alleviate parents’ burden of care taking as well as help autistic children better adapt to the environment and integrate into social life.
The inclusion and support of social organizations for people with autism can not only raise public awareness and understanding of autism, but also help them to enjoy the fun of social life while foster social communication skills. Beyond meeting the needs of autistic customers, it also allows ordinary customers to try out special shopping experiences and explore different lifestyles of the disadvantaged groups.
More details: https://www.ettoday.net/news/20180911/1255684.htm
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