With the holiday season just around the corner, many families are going to be heading off to the stores to do some shopping. This can present a unique challenge for some, especially for adults who have children with autism. Even adults with autism may also have difficulty in this regard. Fortunately, one store is doing something about it and you might be amazed with the results.
Beginning November 6, select Toys “R” Us stores in the UK will begin reducing their florescent lighting, dimming the lights, cutting off in-store music and eliminating loudspeaker announcements. At those stores, the employees will also create quiet zones for families and put up autism friendly signage.
“For many autistic people and their families a simple trip to the shops, which should be an enjoyable experience, can be fraught with difficulty,” said Daniel Cadey, an autism access manager for the National Autistic Society. “Autistic children and adults can become overwhelmed with too much information inside a busy store.”
Children with autism can become overwhelmed with the loud announcements and artificial lighting. Some children may also feel physical pain and be traumatized by the experience. Children should not feel that way when shopping during the holiday season.
“Simple changes like this can make a huge difference to the 700,000 autistic people in the UK and to their families. We hope that many more major retailers will follow the great example set by Toys R Us.”
Via: Happiness Heroes
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