Toys R Us to offer quiet shopping hour for children with autism. There will be no in-store music or Tannoy announcements for the duration of the event, autism-friendly signage will be put in place, and stores will be providing quiet zones. “Holding such events has given our teams extreme pride in reaching out to autism groups within the community,” said Toys R Us marketing director Mike Coogan.
'Toys R Us' To Offer Christmas Quiet Hours Of Shopping
According to Inquisitr, Toys “R” Us toys are among the most coveted of possessions for most children, and one store in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, was the first to observe and test “quiet hours.” Patti Erickson, president of the Greater Philadelphia Autism Society, discovered that toy stores in the U.K. had offered a “sensory-friendly shopping day” since 2012. She quickly began a campaign to onboard local stores and challenged them to parallel the event.
The King of Prussia location hosted the official “quiet hours” event Saturday, working with local organizations to collaborate a well-suited experience for children and their parents. For two hours, the store turned off their holiday music, set up calming sensory stations, and reserved a “quiet area” for children who needed a place to decompress from sensory overload.
As reported by CNN, the stores are offering special shopping days, as well as events in order to accommodate families with children who have autism. Toys R Us will be offering these quiet hours of shopping in some stores, they have indicated that they will not be rolling this out to all of their stores. Instead, it will happen in certain locations, such as one that has been confirmed in Pennsylvania.
What Is Autism?
As describe by Medline Plus, Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that begins early in childhood and lasts throughout a person's life. It affects how a person acts and interacts with others, communicates, and learns. It includes what used to be known as Asperger syndrome and pervasive developmental disorders.
ASD is characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. ASD can be associated with intellectual disability, difficulties in motor coordination and attention and physical health issues such as sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances. Some persons with ASD excel in visual skills, music, math and art.
