- Huw Hughes
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John Lewis & Partners has teamed up with the National Autistic Society
to trial a new shoe fitting service for children with autism.
While many items of clothing can be bought online, shoes need to be
fitted to each child individually, and the fitting experience can be
especially difficult for children with autism.
In order to deliver a less stressful experience, the National Autistic
Society has put together a bespoke training package for John Lewis’
employees and will offer training sessions on how to deliver the service
effectively for both children and their parents.
With the trial, parents booking an appointment will be able speak to a
trained employee at the Experience Desk either in store or over the phone
to discuss their individual child’s needs and how the shop space can be
altered to suit their needs. This could include adjusting the volume of
shop music or suggesting particular walking routes through the shop.
The trials will initially be available at stores in Cheadle, Cribbs
Causeway, White City, Bluewater and Southampton, before a wider roll-out is
expected.
Caroline Bettis, head of buying, childrenswear, said in a statement:
“It’s been fantastic working with the National Autistic Society on this
service. Shoe fitting can be stressful enough for children and their
parents but this experience can be even more challenging for autistic
children. I hope this service will provide a less overwhelming environment
which will help autistic children find the perfect pair of shoes.”
Tom Purser, head of campaigns at the National Autistic Society, added:
“We are very pleased to have worked with John Lewis to develop this trial.
We hear from autistic people and their families that busy public spaces can
be challenging because of bright lights, amplified sounds, and crowds or
queues can cause them to feel overwhelmed.
“Our research shows that 28 percent of autistic people have been asked
to leave a public place for reasons associated with their autism and 50
percent of autistic people and their families sometimes don’t go out
because they are worried about how others might judge them.”
Photo credit: John Lewis & Partners
