Bank to take part in autism crusade

Bank of Scotland branches in Rutherglen and Burnside are creating autism-friendly banking experiences for customers next month.

The bank is among major high street names who have backed the National Autistic Society’s (NAS) Autism Hour, Sainsbury’s, Argos, Lloyds Bank, Halifax, Co-op and Schuh.

Autism Hour was launched last year to encourage shops to be more autism-friendly and more than 5000 shops and businesses took part. This year the NAS wants the event to be even bigger and is encouraging more shops and businesses to get involved.

Autism Hours are designed to show businesses the simple steps they can take to improve the high street experience for autistic customers and families.

Organisers hope that organisations will introduce permanent changes to make their business more-autism friendly.

There are around 700,000 autistic people in the UK, as well as three million family members and carers.

Being autistic means seeing, hearing and feeling the world in a different way to other people.

Autistic people often find social situations difficult and can struggle to filter out the sounds, smells, sights and information they experience, which can make busy public places like shops overwhelming.

The bank’s branches in Main Street, Rutherglen and Stonelaw Road, Burnside, will take part in Autism Hour between 10am and 11am on October 8 and 12.

Rutherglen branch manager Sharon McGhee said: “We know that autism is a mostly hidden disability and I’m proud to raise awareness and support our autistic customers.”

Mark Lever from NAS said: “It’s wonderful to see so many well-known high street retailers have already signed up and are ready to make the world a more autism-friendly place.

“Autistic people represent a huge part of our society and it is a disgrace that 64 per cent of autistic people avoid the shops.

“Shockingly, 28 per cent of autistic people have been asked to leave a public place for reasons associated for their autism. They and their families want and deserve to have the opportunity to go to the shops, just like anyone else.

“With Autism Hour we want to show retailers the small things they can do to help open up the high street for autistic people, like making simple adjustments like turning down music or dimming the lights.

“It’s often the smallest change that makes the biggest difference.”

For more information about shops taking part see autism.org.uk/autismhour.