The Daisy store chain, with the comfort of people on the autism spectrum as well as their families and caregivers in mind, has introduced Quiet Hours in all its stores in Poland. This is the result of cooperation with the JiM Foundation, and its main goal is to make shopping easier for customers with ASD (autism spectrum disorder).

Autism is currently diagnosed in 1 in 100 children in Poland, which means there are 400,000 people with autism in our country. However, there are also parents, siblings and caregivers living with the spectrum, for whom routine chores, including but not limited to shopping, are a great challenge. In order to make daily life easier for people on the autism spectrum, the Daisy chain has introduced "Quiet Hours" in all its stores starting November 4, 2020. The main goal of the campaign is to provide adequate conditions for daily functioning for people on the autism spectrum. A report on the analysis of a survey prepared by the JiM Foundation shows that for most people with ASD, shopping is a negative experience, and the most bothersome factors during shopping are noise, strong lighting or checkout lines.

"It is extremely important to us that large retail chains such as Lidl Poland and Stokrotka introduce facilities for people on the autism spectrum in their outlets. "The 'Quiet Hours' are a nod to people with ASD, for whom factors such as noise or crowding that simply going to the store - as a result of the lack of technical facilities - is extremely stressful," says Tomasz Michalowicz, president of the JIM Foundation.

Music and announcements on the public address system will be muted in Daisy stores during the designated hours. Customers declaring that they are persons on the autism spectrum, without verification, will be served out of order at so-called priority checkouts. The chains are also asking all customers to show understanding as well as patience with those privileged to use priority checkouts.

Quiet Hours at the Daisy are held on Wednesdays from 8:00 - 10:00 am and Saturdays from 5:00 - 7:00 pm.

Earlier, the Lidl Poland chain was the first to join the campaign, running Quiet Hours in its stores on Fridays from 8:00 to 10:00 am and Saturdays from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.