Supermarket 'quiet hour' to help shoppers with autism

A supermarket manager is introducing a ‘quiet hour’ to help autistic shoppers.

Asda Living in Cheetham Hill, Manchester, will stop the escalators and turn-off the in-store music and display TVs to make the shop perfect for people with autism who are sometimes troubled by loud noises.

Autistic and other disabled customers will also be given a map of the store featuring pictures instead of words.

Manager Simon Lea decided to introduce it after seeing a boy with autism struggling to cope on the shopfloor a fortnight ago.

“This boy was playing absolute blue murder, kicking and screaming. His mum just looked drained. She told me he suffers from autism. He was having a meltdown,” said Simon, a 39-year-old married father of two from Hyde.

He gave the lad a 50p voucher and a £1 football to calm him down.

“This lad looked at me and he started playing with the football. His mum was the happiest I have ever seen anyone and just for giving him a football,” said Simon.

The incident prompted the manager to talk to a member of staff with an autistic child and disabled customers to see if he could do anything for them.

The result is the ‘quiet hour’, which will mean staff coming in an hour early at 6am to prepare the shop for the May 7 event.

“When we open the doors you will be able to hear a pin drop. That’s the plan,” said Simon.