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Quiet Hour in our supermarkets

  • 1 min

Supermarkets, particularly during the festive period, can be an extremely busy, loud and stressful place for many of us. However, for those living with autism, this kind of environment can be even more difficult for someone with sensory issues.

Major Australian supermarkets Coles and Woolworths have both implemented a ‘Quiet Hour’, to provide those living with autism and their families, with a calm space to do their weekly shop.

Since 2019, Woolworths has introduced the autism-friendly hour of shopping across 260 locations across Australia.

Many usual practices for the supermarket, including music being played over the speakers and roll cages that carry produce, are removed from the store floor for the designated time period, to reduce overstimulation and noise for those customers that may need it.

Other practices that would be reduced or stopped during the ‘Quiet Hour’ include:

  • Store phones and registers turned down to a low level
  • No PA announcements & buzzers (except in the case of an emergency)
  • Store lighting reduced
  • No trolley collections

For both Woolworths and Coles, their quiet hour is 10:30-11:30 every Tuesday.

All information regarding both stores ‘Quiet Hour’ periods can be found on their websites.

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