The district is in favour of a "quiet hour" when shopping

Loud announcements, constant music or bright lighting in shops or supermarkets can be a major burden for people with autism, neurological disorders, sensory impairments or chronic pain and fatigue when shopping. The district of Waldeck-Frankenberg would like to help promote the participation of those affected and reduce sensory barriers - and therefore supports supermarkets and shops in introducing a "quiet hour".

Create a quiet atmosphere
This means regularly creating a quieter atmosphere in shops and offering or refraining from various measures during this time, e.g. dimming the lights, avoiding loud ambient noises, announcements or phone calls, reducing noise at the checkout, allowing assistance dogs or offering quiet areas. This is particularly helpful for people with sensory impairments - i.e. people who live with invisible disabilities and are often exposed to particular stresses and strains in everyday life.

"A sign of inclusion, consideration and mindfulness"
"By promoting the "Silent Hour", the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg is sending out a clear signal for more inclusion, consideration and mindfulness," emphasises Karl-Friedrich Frese, First District Councillor of the district. "Our aim is to give everyone the feeling that they are good just the way they are. We also want to work together to enable participation and promote a society that recognises and acknowledges invisible disabilities."

Not all impairments and disabilities are visible
Non-visible disabilities are not a marginal phenomenon; they affect people from all age groups and walks of life. These include physical, mental and neurological impairments such as chronic illnesses, fatigue syndromes, autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, depression, anxiety disorders, epilepsy, diabetes or autoimmune diseases. "As these impairments are usually not recognisable from the outside, those affected are often confronted with a lack of understanding and are repeatedly faced with the challenge of having to explain their situation," explains Alexandra Köck, the district's local disability officer. "At the same time, they quietly make enormous efforts to cope with their everyday lives, which is often barely recognised by those around them. This lack of visibility often makes life even more stressful. Invisible disabilities remind us how diverse the realities of life are - and how important empathy is in everyday life. We want to create better participation for them."

Making everyday life easier for people
The "quiet hour" helps to make everyday life easier for people who experience particular challenges due to noise, hectic pace or other sensory stimuli. During this regular period in supermarkets or shops, a quiet and relaxed shopping atmosphere is created that is deliberately designed to minimise stimuli. Not only those affected benefit from this offer, but also older people, families with small children and anyone who wants to shop in a calmer atmosphere.

Support from the district
The district of Waldeck-Frankenberg provides comprehensive support to businesses in the introduction and implementation of the quiet hour. It offers advice on suitable measures, provides information and advertising materials and helps to publicise the idea. All interested parties are cordially invited to participate in the initiative and thus make an important contribution to mindful, inclusive interaction. The contact person for supermarkets and retailers is the local disability officer Alexandra Köck, who can be contacted by e-mail at alexandra.koeck@lkwafkb.de or by telephone on 05631 - 954 1625. She warmly encourages all interested parties to get in touch, seek advice and take part in the initiative.

Keywords:

Specialist Service for Women and Equal Opportunities Accessibility Quiet Hour