Staff Reports
Walmart is making a bold move to accommodate people who struggle with sensory overload by rolling out new store hours designed to create a more relaxed shopping experience. For 14 hours each week, Walmart stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico will have sensory-friendly hours from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. seven days a week. The decision to implement these hours permanently came after a successful pilot program earlier this year.
Walmart’s ‘sensory friendly’ hours aim to help shoppers with ADHD, PTSD — overhead radio off, lights dimmed https://t.co/rERHxTlPTL pic.twitter.com/KsoyyH8FQC
— New York Post (@nypost) November 8, 2023
According to Walmart, the feedback from the pilot program was overwhelmingly positive, with many customers expressing gratitude for the changes. The company aims to make their stores “a little easier on the eyes and ears” during these hours. Denise Malloy Deaderick, Walmart’s “Senior Vice President and Chief Belonging Officer,” signed the statement along with two other Walmart executives.
This move by Walmart is part of a growing trend among retailers to cater to customers with autism and attention deficit disorders. Sensory-friendly hours typically include lower lighting, less noise, and fewer strong scents. Some stores even ask employees to avoid making eye contact with customers who have autism and to be mindful of avoiding figures of speech that could be confusing.
Customers and employees alike have praised Walmart’s efforts to create a more inclusive shopping experience. One shopper, whose child has autism, noted that small changes like lighting and noise levels can make a significant difference. Walmart hopes to continue enhancing their sensory-friendly measures based on customer feedback.
As Walmart takes steps to fulfill its mission of helping families save money and live better, it’s encouraging to see retailers embracing inclusivity and making efforts to create a more welcoming environment for all customers.
