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sensory environment

Implement quiet hours

Schedule lower-noise, low-light periods to make your business more accessible for people sensitive to sensory input.

man doin shopping of grocery in mall

Why this matters

 

Some people are sensitive to sights and sounds. Normal lighting and noise can make visiting businesses very hard. Quiet hours reduce the sensory intensity and let more people enjoy your business. This could mean dimming or adjusting the lights. It also means lowering or turning off music.

“If you work, you can't access [off-peak] quiet hours. It needs to be either every day or every second day, for a larger block of time” 

Community Member

What best practice looks like:

 

  • A clear explanation of what a Sunflower Lanyard means
  • An understanding of ID tools and how they are used. They include
  •  Autism Alert Cards, National Assistance Cards and similar tools.
  • Knowing not to make assumptions about a person’s needs
  • Understanding that some disabilities are not visible
  • Respecting when someone does not want help
  • Cover recognition tools in inclusion training

Example:

A company trains staff to support people who wear a Sunflower Lanyard. Training can include real-life examples. These examples show that the lanyard is a visible sign requesting help. The wearer may need changes to the space or more service time and information.