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Coles is planning to introduce a new shopping experience for shoppers with autism. The popular supermarket chain is introducing ‘Quiet Hour’ at 68 of its stores around the country from Tuesday.
For one hour each week, the stores will switch off the radio, dim the lights by 50 per cent and reduce register volume in a move to help shoppers who struggle with heightened sensory environments.
The initiative saw an overwhelmingly positive response from Victorian shoppers during trials earlier in 2017.
No trolley collections will take place during Quiet Hour, while announcements will only be made in emergencies.
The ‘Quiet Hour’ will take place between 10.30am and 11.30am every Tuesday.
Aspect’s community engagement and operations manager Linzi Coyle told Fairfax, ‘People on the autism spectrum often have difficulty processing sensory information and can find sounds, light, smell, touch and taste overwhelming.
‘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.’
Several shoppers have already announced their excitement and gratitude toward the new initiative.
Quiet Hour participating stores:
- SA Tea Tree Plaza
- SA Parkholme
- SA Anzac Highway
- SA Mount Barker
- SA Port Pirie
- VIC Wendouree
- VIC Belmont
- VIC Brunswick West
- VIC Burnside
- VIC Altona Meadows
- VIC Essendon Fields
- VIC Pakenham Lakeside
- VIC Ferntree Gully
- VIC Ringwood
- VIC Brandon Park
- VIC Langwarrin
- VIC Cranbourne West
- VIC Benalla
- VIC Prahran
- VIC Brighton
- VIC Eltham
- VIC Balwyn East
- VIC Fitzroy
- NSW Warners Bay
- NSW Old Bar
- NSW Wadalba
- NSW Lisarow
- NSW Inverell
- NSW Banora Point
- NSW Medowie
- NSW Wellington
- NSW Bega
- NSW Ulladulla
- NSW Wattle Grove
- NSW Moss Vale
- NSW Kings Langley
- NSW Goulburn
- NSW Manly Vale
- NSW Castle Hill
- NSW Epping
- NSW Caringbah
- NSW Brighton-Le-Sands
- NSW Pyrmont
- QLD Cairns Central
- QLD Maryborough
- QLD Caloundra
- QLD Kippa Ring
- QLD Cleveland
- QLD Everton Park
- QLD Newfarm
- QLD Rockhampton South
- QLD Townsville Annandale
- QLD Mt Gravatt
- QLD Marsden
- QLD Toowoomba
- QLD Helensvale
- QLD Mudgeeraba
- NT Casuarina Bradshaw
- TAS Newtown
- WA Margaret River
- WA Erskine
- WA Southern River
- WA South Lakes
- WA Mundaring
- WA Floreat
- WA Hillarys
- WA Kalgoorlie
- WA Kalgoorlie (Hannans)
This article originally appeared on New Idea.
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