Coles introduces 'Quiet Hour' for shoppers with autism

For one hour each week, the stores will switch off the radio, dim the lights by 50 per cent and reduce register volume in a move to help shoppers who struggle with heightened sensory environments.

The initiative saw an overwhelmingly positive response from Victorian shoppers during trials earlier in 2017. 

No trolley collections will take place during Quiet Hour, while announcements will only be made in emergencies.

The 'Quiet Hour' will take place between 10.30am and 11.30am every Tuesday.

Aspect's community engagement and operations manager Linzi Coyle told Fairfax, 'People on the autism spectrum often have difficulty processing sensory information and can find sounds, light, smell, touch and taste overwhelming.

'Together with Coles, we're achieving a 'no-judgement' shopping space where people on the spectrum and their families can feel comfortable and welcome whilst grocery shopping.' 

Several shoppers have already announced their excitement and gratitude toward the new initiative. 

Quiet Hour participating stores: 

• SA Tea Tree Plaza
• SA Parkholme
• SA Anzac Highway
• SA Mount Barker
• SA Port Pirie
• VIC Wendouree
• VIC Belmont
• VIC Brunswick West
• VIC Burnside
• VIC Altona Meadows
• VIC Essendon Fields
• VIC Pakenham Lakeside
• VIC Ferntree Gully
• VIC Ringwood
• VIC Brandon Park
• VIC Langwarrin
• VIC Cranbourne West
• VIC Benalla
• VIC Prahran
• VIC Brighton
• VIC Eltham
• VIC Balwyn East
• VIC Fitzroy
• NSW   Warners Bay
• NSW   Old Bar
• NSW   Wadalba
• NSW   Lisarow
• NSW   Inverell
• NSW   Banora Point
• NSW   Medowie
• NSW   Wellington
• NSW   Bega
• NSW   Ulladulla
• NSW   Wattle Grove
• NSW   Moss Vale
• NSW   Kings Langley
• NSW   Goulburn
• NSW   Manly Vale
• NSW   Castle Hill
• NSW   Epping
• NSW   Caringbah
• NSW   Brighton-Le-Sands
• NSW   Pyrmont
• QLD    Cairns Central
• QLD    Maryborough
• QLD    Caloundra
• QLD    Kippa Ring
• QLD    Cleveland
• QLD    Everton Park
• QLD    Newfarm
• QLD    Rockhampton South
• QLD    Townsville Annandale
• QLD    Mt Gravatt
• QLD    Marsden
• QLD    Toowoomba
• QLD    Helensvale
• QLD    Mudgeeraba
• NT      Casuarina Bradshaw
• TAS    Newtown
• WA      Margaret River
• WA      Erskine
• WA      Southern River
• WA      South Lakes
• WA      Mundaring
• WA      Floreat
• WA      Hillarys
• WA      Kalgoorlie
• WA      Kalgoorlie (Hannans)

This article originally appeared on New Idea.