Staff at a Suffolk superstore took part in virtual reality training in a bid to make shopping a better experience for people with autism.
The training took place at the Stowmarket Tesco and provided staff with experiences and increased knowledge on what day-to-day life is like for those on the autistic spectrum.
Stowmarket Tesco is one of the first in the UK to try this Supermarket version of the Autism Reality Experience training programme, provided by Training2Care.
Staff participated in the training, with each member given an interactive learning experience inside a mobile simulator, using headphones, sensory lighting, special impact glasses, smells and environment to recreate what a day may look like in a supermarket for those with autism.
Andrew Doherty, the store manager said: "The training was a real eye-opener on how a trip to the supermarket could appear to someone with autism.
"The experience was really good, with many learnings of how a simple shopping trip can become a real challenge for someone with the condition."
As well as the training, the Stowmarket store has 'quiet mornings' on Wednesdays and Saturdays between 9am and 10am, where they dim the lights and reduce the music volume.
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