Image: BILLA AG
The “quiet hour” valid in the Billa Plus at Lindengasse 16 daily from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. There will be no music and no announcements during this period. Photosensitive customers can borrow sunglasses.
Accessible shopping
The background is that in Upper Austria an estimated 24,000 people are affected by autism in various forms, many of them without a diagnosis. A key feature of this neurodevelopmental disorder is often a high sensitivity to noise or light. Accordingly, shopping in noisy, light-intensive and often dense markets is difficult for people on the autism spectrum. That’s why BILLA in Upper Austria started the “Silent Hour” pilot project in cooperation with the Autism Competence Center of the Barmherzige Brüder Linz and other organizations.
Other locations are to follow
“With the “Silent Hour”, which we offer in addition to Linz-Urfahr in one store each in Vienna, Burgenland and Styria, we are breaking down barriers and creating inclusive shopping opportunities”, says Sandra Edelmann, Diversity & Inclusion Manager at REWE Group. In cooperation with local social associations, the introduction in other Austrian cities and communities is planned.
Source: Nachrichten
