New measures are being rolled out at Channel Islands Coop stores to make shopping easier for neurodivergent customers.
Shoppers will be able to use new items which aim to make the experience less overwhelming and distressing.
These include:
- ear defenders (in both adult and children's sizes)
- a to-do list
- a storyboard instructing customers how to navigate the branch
- a board to communicate with staff.
These will be available at stores in Millennium Park, St Peter's Village, St Martin and St Sampson Grand Marché stores.
Dedicated 'quiet time' will also be introduced in some shops, where lights will be dimmed and music kept to a minimum, for customers preferring a calmer shopping experience.
This will be happening on Mondays from 3pm - 5pm and on Saturdays from 5pm-7pm.
The new measures will not replace existing help for neurodiverse individuals and those with accessibility needs.
Sunflower lanyards are still on offer, which signal a person has a hidden disability, and can be kept by customers.
Shopping trolleys which can seat older children are also still available.
Shopping Trolley for older children at Coop
Emma Veitch, Interim Head of Retail Operations at CI Coop, hopes the measures will make a real difference:
“I understand how stimulating and overwhelming it can be in certain environments and have spent a long time trying to make shopping a calmer experience for my own son who has Autism and ADHD.
"From my own experience and with the advice from others within the neurodivergent community, Coop has introduced aids that we hope will create a calmer and more enjoyable experience."
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