In a recent press release, Walmart said they are striving every day to create a culture where everyone feels they belong. This year, Walmart is taking steps toward creating a quieter shopping environment that’s more enjoyable for customers who live with sensory disabilities. Our sensory-friendly hours will take place Saturdays in July and throughout August from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. in most stores. For areas that start school after Labor Day, sensory-friendly hours will begin July 22.
"For many of us, back-to-school shopping was an exciting rite of passage each year, but kiddos on the spectrum can miss out on the everyday experiences that end up being fond lifelong memories because those excursions can be of more burden than benefit," says Christopher Barnett, CEO of ABA Centers."These sensory-friendly hours at Walmart may give some of these kiddos the opportunity to experience the fun of back-to-school shopping with their families for the very first time.By reducing sensory overload and stress, this initiative enables children to engage more fully in the shopping experience and even helps them to prepare for the major milestone of starting a new school year, while also providing support and respite for their families.
An awesome byproduct that is not often talked about is the community bonding that takes place during events like this – families facing similar challenges are able to connect with one another in an organic setting.
It was announced earlier this year that 1 in 36 children in our country have autism. That equates to more than 2 million kiddos currently on the spectrum – and 2 million families helping them navigate a neurodivergent life. Being inclusive of the autism community is simply good for business."
ABA Centers is a vertically integrated behavioral healthcare organization that provides applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy services to children with autism spectrum disorder through a play-based approach rooted in positive reinforcement. The company was designed to disrupt the autism care industry by demolishing wait times traditionally experienced by those in search of a diagnosis or treatment through a tech-centric modus operandi. Its strategically designed behavioral care centers serve the Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania areas, with in-home and in-school therapy also available to deliver the most impactful continuum of care and to best meet each child’s specific needs. The organization will be expanding into Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, and Washington D.C. in the coming months.
For more info on back-to-school shopping, visit walmart.com.