Coop Lombardia collaborated with two associations for relatives of autistic people, PizzAut and Alla3, to bring the €25 million project to life.
In line with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) criteria developed by experts on the subject, the store uses simple images to illustrate actions according to a routine.
Autistic people and those accompanying them receive a map of the supermarket upon entering the store and are given priority at the tills.
The retailer teamed up with the PizzAut association to train all store 85 staff members on recognising the condition and communicating with autistic people.
The Alla3 association contributed to the project by designing graphic signs for supermarket aisles that are suitable for autistic people.
Camilla Galloni, one of the mothers from the Alla3 association, said that traditional stores have “many sensory barriers for autistic people of all ages, such as lights that are too bright and noises that are too loud”.
According to Coop Lombardia VP Afredo De Bellis, the new store is probably the first of its kind in Europe, adding that they hope to extend the model to all other outlets in the Lombardy region.
The project received sponsorship from the European Commission.
Estimates suggest that one out every 70 children born in Italy have autism.
With ANSA
