Janice R. Andrews
Walmart U.S. and Puerto Rico stores are resuming Sensory-Friendly Hours every day from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., commencing November 10, 2023, with no set end date. This is a ground-breaking step towards inclusivity. The goal of this project is to make shopping for those with sensory impairments more inclusive.
Walmart started a trial programme earlier this year during back-to-school season. Stores made small adjustments like dimming lights, turning off radios, and displaying static TV images to create a less stimulating environment for two hours on Saturdays. Customers expressed thankfulness for the change in their shopping experience, and the feedback was overwhelmingly favourable.
Walmart is expanding the Sensory-Friendly Hours to be a daily event, motivated by the commitment to creating a culture of belonging and encouraged by the response received. The business is aware that minor modifications, such as those made during the trial programme, can significantly affect how people with sensory difficulties feel about shopping.
Following extensive customer and colleague participation via in-person meetings, emails, listening sessions, and social media interactions, the decision to extend Sensory-Friendly Hours was made. Walmart underscores that this is a continuous endeavour to establish a retail space that is not only welcoming but also actively solicits and appreciates input to improve the sensory-friendly features.
Walmart is committed to improving the lives of all people who enter its doors, and these inclusive initiatives are a part of its larger goal to assist families in saving money and leading better lives. In an effort to further enhance and strengthen the Sensory-Friendly Hours, Walmart is inviting community feedback, demonstrating its ongoing dedication to inclusiveness and deliberate improvement.
