Walmart’s ‘sensory friendly’ hours aim to help shoppers with ADHD, PTSD — overhead radio off, lights dimmed

Starting Friday, Walmart customers might notice things are little less noisy than usual during a morning trip to the store. 

The retail giant announced Tuesday that, beginning Nov. 10, all Walmart stores in the US will hold “sensory-friendly” hours from 8-10 a.m. every day, during which the overhead radio will be turned off, lights will be dimmed where possible and all televisions will hold a still image to make the environment less stimulating.

Walmart tested the concept of creating a quieter shopping experience in a pilot program earlier this year as part of an initiative to make stores more inclusive for customers with sensory disabilities such as autism. 

In a trial run during the back-to-school season, the retailer held the sensory-friendly hours Saturday morning.

Following overwhelmingly positive feedback from customers and employees, the company has decided to hold the quiet hours every day and to make the move permanent.

“From face-to-face conversations, emails, listening sessions, social media and our personal experiences in the stores, we have seen what these changes mean for our customers and associates,” Walmart executives Denise Malloy Deaderick, Cedric Clark and Alvis Washington wrote in a joint blog post announcing the expansion of the quiet hours.

“From face-to-face conversations, emails, listening sessions, social media and our personal experiences in the stores, we have seen what these changes mean for our customers and associates,” Walmart executives Denise Malloy Deaderick, Cedric Clark and Alvis Washington wrote in a joint blog post announcing the expansion of the quiet hours.

“Several associates expressed the desire to continue this program all year,” Walmart store manager Tyler Morgan said. “We have associates with autism, ADHD, etc., in the store, and one associate made the comment that this is the first time the company did something just for him. I know we could all use some calm during the stressful holiday season, so I hope this program can continue.”

“I have a child on the autism spectrum, so sensory overload is a lived experience in our house,” Nuala O’Connor, Walmart senior vice president and chief counsel for digital citizenship, said in a statement. “ASD (autism spectrum disorder) and other forms of neurodiversity are often an invisible disability. It is meaningful to so many families that Walmart is implementing sensory hours.”

In the blog post, the Walmart executives said the company welcomes feedback on how the sensory-friendly measures in stores can be enhanced further.