Supermarket Employs Genius Idea To Help Soothe Kids With Autism

A Shop Rite in Pennsylvania has introduced a specialized checkout lane, and the change could benefit young people with autism.  On Sept.7, the supermarket, located in the town of Brookhaven, got rid of the candy display next to one of its registers and began offering an array of toys: Play-Doh, putty, rattles, small puzzles and more.  Such toys are often used as calming tools in occupational therapy for kids who have autism or are on the autism spectrum and also struggle to process everyday sensory information. If a person with autism who has difficulty processing sensory info becomes overwhelmed, it can lead to anxiety, withdrawal or a meltdown.  The idea for the store’s new checkout lane came from Kristin Jackowski, a woman who lives in a nearby town. Jackowski’s 5-year-old daughter, Navy, is on the autism spectrum and experiences meltdowns when she eats sweets and sees candy in checkout lanes. Jackowski explained to The Huffington Post how some of the toys in the new lane help kids like her daughter. “When you think about using putty, for instance, you squeeze it, like how adults do with a stress ball,” she said. “It’s getting a sensation out in a more productive way than screaming or throwing your body on the ground.” On Aug. 25, Jackowski launched a petition on Change.org asking retailers, specifically Target, to offer sensory-friendly shopping lanes. One of the signers put her in touch with th...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news