Quiet time at stores for autism campaign
AROUND 180 shops and business across Greater Manchester will be taking part in ‘quiet hour’ this week.
Autism Hour, a campaign by the National Autistic Society, runs until Saturday.
It encourages shops to take simple steps to be more autism-friendly, and is part of the charity’s aim to create a society that works for autistic people.
Shopping centres, post offices, supermarkets, coffee shops and retailers have pledged to make these changes for at least one hour.
This means things like turning down music and other background noise, dimming fluorescent strip lighting and sharing information about autism with employees.
Stores taking part include The Entertainer, Pets at Home, Sainsbury’s, Argos, Lloyds Bank, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, Co-op and Schuh. To find participating stores, you can use the searchable map at the National Autistic Society website.
Christine McGuinness, star of Real Housewives of Cheshire, is backing the campaign.
A mother to five-year-old autistic twins Penelope and Leo, she said: “It is my job to protect them and help make a world which works for them. Like any other family, we want to have the option of going to shops, to go clothes shopping with them and let them pick out clothes and experience a fun family day out. Something that people may take for granted.
“I really hope that so many shops get involved, and that everyone makes an effort to learn something about autism during the week.”