Five Woolworths stores in Canberra will be undertaking a "quiet hour" each week to reduce anxiety and sensory stress for customers with specific needs, such as autism.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Woolworths is catching up with Coles, which announced in December 2017 that it was introducing a quiet hour every Tuesday at its Westfield Woden Coles.
The Tuggeranong, Calwell, Majura Park, Belconnen and Cooleman Court Woolworths stores will all offer the low-sensory quiet hour every Tuesday between 10.30am and 11.30am.
During the hour the stores will lower lights, turn down music and radio and "turn off oven buzzers". There will also be no PA announcements, unless in an emergency, the volume on store phones and registers will be turned down and roll cages will be removed from the shop floor.
The low sensory initiative was developed in consultation with disability service providers at Life Without Barriers.
Life Without Barriers chief executive Claire Robbs said quiet hour was a fantastic accessibility initiative.
"It gives people a way to do their shopping and increase their independence in an environment that is not stressful and overwhelming to them," she said.
