Starting tonight, Drakes Supermarkets are going ‘Quiet’ on Tuesday nights from 6pm-9pm.
Trialling at Golden Grove and Hallett Cove, Drakes will be dimming the lights with less sounds and increased signage for a more inclusive shopping experience for our autistic and autism community.
“Our team are excited to be trialling a sensory inclusive shopping experience in our stores, offering an even friendlier environment for our customers and the communities we live in,” John-Paul Drake, Director of Drakes says.
With all the people milling around, music playing from the speakers, and bright, fluorescent lights, things can get pretty overwhelming for those who sit on the autism spectrum and have a heightened awareness of sound and sight.
Autism is a neurological difference in the way that individuals experience and respond to the world around them. There is not one singular way that Autistic people* experience the world. That’s why the term ‘spectrum’ is often used – to reflect the fact that every individual’s lived experience of autism is different.
The trial listens to the calls of the autistic and autism communities about the importance of sensory inclusive shopping experiences, but most importantly for them to occur at times when working adults and families can attend.
“I’m delighted that Drakes has come on board and is trialling these important sensory sessions in their stores – and at times that are more inclusive for working individuals and families,” the nation’s first ever Assistant Minister for Autism Emily Bourke says.
Currently, most inclusive shopping hours occur in the middle of the day, Drakes are instead beginning the inclusive hours every Tuesday night at the two stores from 6pm-9pm, extending the normal hours of trade by an extra hour.
Staff at both stores have participated in Autism SA’s inclusion training and each store will become a more sensory inclusive environment during the ‘Quiet Time’ hours with dim lights, less sounds and increased signage in stores.
Access to spaces such as supermarkets was continually raised by the autistic and autism communities during the 12-week consultation period on the Labor Government’s first Autism Strategy.
Drakes joins the growing list of private industries, including the Adelaide 36rs and the Adelaide Zoo, in making their services more inclusive for the autistic and autism communities.
They also aren’t the first supermarket to introduce the concept, with Coles and Woolworths both having “Quiet Hour” which was introduced a few years back – with Coles now having over 33 stores currently participating.
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