Coles Is Introducing A “Quiet Hour” To Make Life Easier For Shoppers With Autism

Coles is rolling out a new low-sensory shopping experience, in an effort to make life easier for customers with autism spectrum disorder.

Quiet Hour will see 68 Coles supermarkets around the country dim their lights by 50 percent and turn off their radios between 10:30am and 11:30am each Tuesday. The volume of registers and scanners will be set to their lowest setting; grocery trolley collection will be temporarily suspended; and use of the PA system will be reserved for emergencies only. Additional staff will also be made available to assist customers if required.

The initiative, which has already been successfully trialled in two stores in Victoria, was devised in partnership with Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect), and is designed to aid people who have difficult with bright, loud, crowded environments.

“People on the autism spectrum often have difficulty processing sensory information and can find sounds, light, smell, touch and taste overwhelming,” said Aspect’s community engagement and operations manager Linzi Coyle.

“The modifications to the shopping experience haven’t just been about creating low physical and sensory stimulators,” she added. “Together with Coles, we’re achieving a ‘no-judgement’ shopping space where people on the spectrum and their families can feel comfortable and welcome whilst grocery shopping.”

The response to the initiative has been positive, with a number of people reaching out to Coles and Aspect on Facebook to request that Quiet Hour be introduced to the rest of the supermarket chain’s more than 800 stores around Australia.

that's our pleasure! We're proud to be creating a more welcoming shopping environment for all our customers. ?

— Coles Supermarkets (@Coles) November 20, 2017

For the full list of participating Coles stores, go here.

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h/t Fairfax