STAFF at The Valley have taken part in training to help make visiting the shopping centre as stress-free as possible for people living with autism and their families.
The training was carried out by The National Autistic Society and staff ranging from the site manager, to the site team and administrators completed the course.
The course covered a range of topics, such as sensory issues that may affect people living with autism when shopping and why this can be a trigger for stress and anxiety.
As a result of the training, the staff now understand how taking small steps, such as turning the volume down on music or offering support to someone who may be in difficulty, can have a big impact.
Paul James, The Valley Facilities Manager, said: “Many people with autism, or those caring for people with autism, feel isolated, and that is in part because there is still relatively little understanding of the condition among the general public.
“We want absolutely everyone to enjoy shopping at The Valley, and that’s why we decided to ensure all our employees had sufficient training about this condition.
“In particular, we wanted to make life easier for parents caring for disabled children to come to visit The Valley.
“Doing this training is a small thing for us, but we hope it makes a big difference.
“The next step is to encourage some of our retail partners and restaurateurs at The Valley to undergo similar training”.
Rachel Evans, Lead Teacher of Outreach at the Vale of Evesham School, said: “Shopping can be a hugely stressful for people with autism, with unfamiliar sounds, sights, smells and a busy atmosphere that can be overwhelming.
“We’re so pleased that The Valley chose to take part in this training to find out more about how they can make shopping easier for people with autism.
“If more businesses took the time to take part in initiatives like this, life with autism really would be a little easier for so many people.”
