Full Marks. Shops are finally listening to us

Mum-of-four Debbie McLeod, 48, of Maybole, Ayrshire, says the easy dress uniforms are a brilliant idea, especially for chldren like her youngest son Struan, eight, who has autism

What a fabulous idea. I’m just surprised that school uniform makers have not come up with it before.

Getting dressed is a daily battle with Struan as it is with a lot of autistic children.

Even the simple task of getting him into his clothes often becomes an ordeal and any way this could be made easier would be a godsend.

Depending on Struan’s mood, it can take up to half an hour to talk him into getting dressed – never mind actually getting his uniform on.

He hates standing still for the buttoning up process so Velcrofastening shirts and polo shirts will make all our lives a lot easier and should cut down the stress.

Struan can make an attempt at dressing himself but at home I have to do it or he would just decide he was never going to put on his clothes and he wasn’t going to school.

He goes to Southcraig Campus in Ayr and the teachers encourage them to dress themselves after swimming no matter how long it takes. So I know they will be delighted with a uniform that goes on and off easily.

It might also make Struan more keen to get dressed. He hates buttons and can’t manage zips so the easy fastenings will help him become more independent.

The only advice I would give on the new easy dress uniforms would be to make them in even bigger sizes as a lot of autistic children are of bigger build.

It’s all very well doing them up to age 16 but a lot of kids will exceed that size by the age of 12

or 13 so if they could increase the range to include adult sizes too that would be great.

Some of the shops already do all-in-one vests and pants and bodysuits for kids up to the age of eight, which I know are invaluable to some mums whose autistic children are still in nappies.

It’s great retailers are listening to the needs of customers and are liaising with the National Autistic Society. I don’t think many people realise small adjustments like these uniforms can make a huge difference.

It’s not just kids with special needs who will benefit from this range as all children like short cuts. My 10-year-old daughter Abbi would love a uniform she could pull on quickly.

Hats off to Marks & Spencer for the idea. There are so many ways shops can make life easier for kids with autism. Tesco and Asda have trollies with seats for larger children and some cinemas do autistic-friendly screenings. What we need now is autistic-friendly swimming sessions.

The fact that retailers and businesses are listening to families and acting on their advice is fantastic.