House of Fraser.
I know it's gone April but still have a few venues to do, one of which I've been promising to visit since way back at the George Square Autism event.
Gawd I'm so unorganised.
Well actually work and illness have gotten in the way recently but I did finally manage to make it down to The House of Fraser store on Buchanan Street and this time I wasn't alone as I took Mrs Ash (who isn't actually Autistic) and our twin girls (who are) for help.
So how did they do?*
I'm glad to say that they got top marks! - Fraser's staff are currently undergoing Autism training (with the majority already completed it) and are offering a quiet space for those that need it.
Taking advantage of it couldn't be simpler, just grab a member of staff and they'll get someone to take you there.
The quiet room itself is cool, calm and not too cluttered with everything from sensory toys, projector lights and colouring books amongst other things to aid chilling out.
They even had a massive weighted blanket which gets bonus points.
There is also a free WiFi connection which may sound odd but as we know is really useful if your child is YouTube/tablet obsessed.
But the thing that really stuck out for me was not only how relaxed and calm the staff were around our girls but how attentive they were too.
You can really tell how much the issue of Autism acceptance and the changes that venues and shops can make really seem to matter to them.
The fact of how much effort they've gone to to not only find a suitable space for the quiet area and equip it too shows this.
Brilliant (and according to the staff ongoing) work all round.
As an aside be aware that when you enter the shop that it's HUGE which can be mildly disorientating but like most existing buildings (and there are quite a few of them on the list) there's not much you can do about that, luckily tho' the doorstaff are absolutely lovely and put you immediately at ease, the one we encountered even indulged twin 2's Paul McCartney obsession which definitely gets bonus points from us.
*The shop that is, not the kids - I mean we class anything with a bodycount in single figures as a win all round.
Gawd I'm so unorganised.
Well actually work and illness have gotten in the way recently but I did finally manage to make it down to The House of Fraser store on Buchanan Street and this time I wasn't alone as I took Mrs Ash (who isn't actually Autistic) and our twin girls (who are) for help.
So how did they do?*
 |
| "Set Frasers to stun!" |
Taking advantage of it couldn't be simpler, just grab a member of staff and they'll get someone to take you there.
The quiet room itself is cool, calm and not too cluttered with everything from sensory toys, projector lights and colouring books amongst other things to aid chilling out.
They even had a massive weighted blanket which gets bonus points.
There is also a free WiFi connection which may sound odd but as we know is really useful if your child is YouTube/tablet obsessed.
But the thing that really stuck out for me was not only how relaxed and calm the staff were around our girls but how attentive they were too.
You can really tell how much the issue of Autism acceptance and the changes that venues and shops can make really seem to matter to them.
The fact of how much effort they've gone to to not only find a suitable space for the quiet area and equip it too shows this.
Brilliant (and according to the staff ongoing) work all round.
As an aside be aware that when you enter the shop that it's HUGE which can be mildly disorientating but like most existing buildings (and there are quite a few of them on the list) there's not much you can do about that, luckily tho' the doorstaff are absolutely lovely and put you immediately at ease, the one we encountered even indulged twin 2's Paul McCartney obsession which definitely gets bonus points from us.
*The shop that is, not the kids - I mean we class anything with a bodycount in single figures as a win all round.
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