Toys "R" Us to Offer Quiet Holiday Shopping Hour for Customers on Autism Spectrum

Toys “R” Us locations throughout the U.K. will be hosting a quiet hour on Sunday, November 6, for those with autism and their families. Stores will be opening an hour earlier with special accommodations meant to make holiday shopping easier for individuals on the spectrum.

As part of the shopping experience, lights will be dimmed and fluorescent lighting will be limited. In-store music will also be muted, and no announcements will be made. Stores will be offering quiet-zones for shoppers.

“Holding such events has given our teams extreme pride in reaching out to autism groups within the community,” Toys “R” Us marketing director Mike Coogan, said in a statement. “Making slight adjustments to stores and creating a quiet shopping period allows children and young adults to experience the fun in a toy shop, regardless of their disability.”

This will be the third year Toys “R” Us is offering a holiday shopping quiet hour. No comparable events have been held at U.S. Toys “R” Us stores as of yet.

Update: A quiet shopping event has been planned for those on the spectrum in the U.S.  A representative for Toys “R” Us told The Mighty, “We’re working on a plan to test these types of opportunities on a local level – pairing our stores with local organizations to create an event for kids with special needs and their families, and will also assess opportunities to scale it nationally.”

Photo Credit: Albert Herring