For the last few years, footwear specialist Charles Clinkard has been offering families full support to ensure that children with autism are comfortable throughout each stage of the buying process. This is part of the brand’s Autism Awareness campaign. Here, Rachel Clinkard from Charles Clinkard, offers advice on how to make your store more inclusive to children with autism.

 

Autism is a hidden disability that affects around 700,000 people in the UK alone (National Autistic Society) — that’s around one in 100 people (Beyond Autism). The disability is measured on a spectrum, which means no two people with autism experience life in the same way.

However, signs usually include difficulties with social interaction and sensory overload, which can make shopping difficult. That’s why, as retailers, we need to put systems in place to make shopping in our stores a more comfortable experience.

Although your store may already take part in the National Autistic Society’s Autism Hour, you can take further steps to ensure that your shop is more inclusive year-round. In fact, at least 29% of shoppers are likely to make the switch to another retailer if they can see that they have systems in place to celebrate diversity and inclusivity (Accenture). Here are five ways to make your store more inclusive to those with autism.

Adapt your environment

For children with autism, loud, bright stores can be overwhelming. Especially if they are busy and there are lots of crowds. This can lead to anxiety and behavioural challenges, which can make the shopping process difficult. So, a good starting point is adapting your store’s environment to reduce the likelihood of sensory overload.

You could consider extending your opening times to provide a quiet hour either once a day or once a week, where you dim the lights, turn off any in-store TVs, video screens, checkout noises and music, and avoid making any tannoy announcements.

Offer a bespoke service

For some children with autism it can help to tailor their shopping experience to them. Ask parents what their child’s needs are and how you can help. Keep those details on file for future reference. If you can, try to assign them a specific store clerk who can assist them every time they visit the store. A familiar face can go a long way towards making a child feel more comfortable in their environment.

It can also be helpful to offer a video to parents so they can fully prepare their child before they come to your store. For example, you could send them a step-by-step film showing what will happen when they visit.

Create a quiet area

It can be tough to get your store perfect for every customer. Don’t be discouraged if any of the children do find it difficult. Just make sure you offer a quiet area or room where families can go to calm down. This could be an empty dressing room or a corner of your store complete with a few chairs or beanbags. Then, ask the family how you can make their experience better, and bear this in mind for future shoppers.

Train your staff

Although everyone with autism is different, your staff should be provided with extensive information about the condition to make sure that they can offer a compassionate service and can remain patient and calm. No one expects your staff to be autism experts. Training them is all about ensuring everyone feels confident enough to serve customers with autism.

Educate your customers

This process is all about making your store more welcoming and inclusive, which means children without autism may still visit your store in these hours. During these times you could speak to families, put up posters, or hand out fliers at the door to inform the public of your autism-friendly processes. Not only does this help to spread the word about your changes, but it also helps to ensure that your customers are going to act respectfully towards those who do have autism.

Public places can be a challenging space for people with autism. By following the steps in this guide you can make your store a more welcoming and inclusive place.

Click here for further information on Charles Clinkard.