Monthly hour for autistic shoppers
An initiative aimed at making shopping easier for people on the autistic spectrum has been extended by Stirling’s Thistles shopping centre.
Due to the success of the first Quiet Hour, which took place in October, it will now become a regular centre fixture.
Aiming to make the shopping experience less stressful for autistic customers, and following the positive feedback received from both customers and retailers, Quiet Hour will now take place in the centre on the first Sunday of every month between 10am and 11am from Sunday, February 4.
Stores will participate by adjusting their lighting where possible and turning off in-store music. The Thistles has been working alongside national charity Scottish Autism to build understanding of the condition across the retailers. There will also be information on display where the public can find out more about autism and the types of support available.
A Thistles spokesperson said:“We are pleased to be announcing this long-term commitment to holding a quiet hour in the centre. The feedback to this fantastic initiative, that was trialled in The Thistles at the end of 2017, was resoundingly positive. We are delighted to be playing our part in raising awareness of the very real challenges autistic people face in their daily lives by now rolling it out once a month through 2018.”
Charlene Tait, Director of Autism Practice and Research at Scottish Autism, added:“The bright lights, music and smells in a shopping centre can be overwhelming for autistic people and their families. We are delighted to support this initiative where small adjustments can make for a more relaxed environment for autistic people and those with sensory conditions.”
Autism is a lifelong, developmental condition that affects the way a person communicates, interacts and processes information. The term‘autism spectrum’ refers to the range of ways the condition presents itself which can vary greatly from person to person and throughout their life. See www.scottishautism.org.