Purple Tuesday: Co-op is making small changes
INTRODUCING a quiet hour is among the small changes that supermarkets and other organisations can make to provide a better shopping experience for people with autism.
The Co-op, in conjunction with Autism Guernsey, turns off music, loudspeaker announcements and beeping sounds on machines for one hour every Monday.
There are also staff available who have undergone autism awareness training.
Kenny McDonald, Co-op Guernsey’s head of operations, pictured right, said: ‘As a community retailer, it is a strong belief of ours that our stores should be open and inclusive to all in Guernsey – whether a disability is visible or hidden.’
Many aspects of shopping can be overwhelming for people with autism, including fluorescent light, loud noises and people moving quickly around the store, which can lead to some feeling overwhelmed and overloaded by the various sensory influences in the surrounding environment.
The store aims to make the environment for shopping easier for adults and children who are on the autism spectrum as well as anyone who would feel they value the hour.
‘Our customers and members are our highest priority and we appreciate that some of our customers may need additional support whilst shopping.’
The Purple Tuesday campaign highlights the capability of staff as well as their training and understanding as a key aspect of site accessibility.
‘Our colleagues have received hidden disabilities awareness training to connect and assist customers. We also have had detailed access audits undertaken at our stores to ensure they are accessible to all. It is one of the ways we are ensuring that we are making a real difference to the communities we serve every day.
‘This is why we have worked with local charities such as Autism Guernsey and the Guernsey Disability Alliance to ensure that we are serving all members of our community, be that through our quiet hour or through a subtle acknowledgement of hidden disabilities with our sunflower lanyard scheme,’ said Mr McDonald.
The scheme was launched by the Co-op in 2018 to give customers the chance to discreetly say they may need some extra help while shopping. Disability ambassador Michael Ellis wears a lanyard to communicate that he is visually impaired and has autism and said he knows people who value the opportunity to shop during a quiet hour.
‘Noise and light and other sensory stuff can make me really overloaded. It reduces my ability to do what I am trying to do.’
. Quiet hour takes place at the Grand Marche stores in St Martin’s and St Sampson’s from 3-4pm.
